Bruce E. Whitacre, Executive Director of Theatre Forward comments on whether “arts engagement can predict success or contribute to a strong workforce, and if a background in the arts was of personal importance to successful executives.” And here are his five key takeaways:

• Executives have an extremely low perception of the 21st century skills new employees bring to their jobs. Only 4 percent are seen as having leadership skills? And more experienced employees aren’t much better!

• Unaided, few executives thought the arts could address this problem; but when prompted, 58 percent say that the arts can build these skills; and for many specific traits, such as ability to work with others, focus, perseverance, that percentage was over 70 percent. Creativity and Confidence were over 80 percent.

• A majority of executives, 56 percent, say the arts develop job skills that are valuable in industries outside the creative sector. So arts engagement is not just for the Creative Economy!

• Nearly 90 percent of executives participated in the arts in school; nearly half of them say the arts significantly contributed to their career success, and that ongoing participation in the arts impacts their compassion towards others. Arts engagement has a high correlation to career success.

• Yet only 22 percent of executives think this justifies their business supporting the arts and arts education, and only 10 percent feel arts organizations do a good job communicating these benefits.