Authorizing the Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings on the benefits of arts and cultural programs and their relationship in the development of the youth in the City of Philadelphia and to further investigate potential opportunities to increase the availability of arts and cultural programs in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has rich and diverse cultural institutions throughout the City that provide programs targeted to our younger population; and

WHEREAS, Persuasive evidence exists that there is great value in arts and culture programs for our young people, including when youth participate or work in the arts during their out of school hours they are four times more likely to have won school-wide attention for their academic achievement.

WHEREAS, Statistics show a direct correlation between youth working in the arts and college attendance as eighty-three percent of youth working in the arts expect to attend college as opposed to sixty-two percent for those not involved; and

WHEREAS, There is scientific data that also indicates the value of arts in the schools. In the College Board Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, it states that students who take four years of art classes in high school score better than students who took one half year or less. In 1996, scores were 34 points higher in math and 48 points higher in verbal for those with coursework in the arts versus those with no coursework; and

WHEREAS, The City does support arts and culture programs for our youth through entities such as the Cultural Fund, The Mural Arts Program, The Recreation Department and the School District; and

WHEREAS, Despite current efforts, there is a sense by many in the arts, youth, and education communities that awareness of the value of arts programs needs to be expanded and access to arts programs needs to be widened; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs is authorized to hold public hearings on the benefits of arts and cultural programs and their relationship in the development of the youth in the City of Philadelphia and to further investigate potential opportunities to increase the availability of arts and cultural programs in the City of Philadelphia.

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