The Benefits of Art

The Benefits of Art

So, why should you reserve time each day to take an art break? How does a decrease in your stress level sound? Or, what about an enhanced memory? How about an enhanced mood? Let’s all use art to have a conversation with ourselves to better know ourselves. Let’s become better, connect more, and make the world a better place.

Take an Art Break and see what happens.

And, don’t just take our word for it. We’ve collected a list of studies about art that have proven that it does so much for us as individuals and as a community. Check it out!

Decrease Feelings of Anxiety

  • The act of creating a work of art reduces a negative mood. Article here. Research here.
  • A study that found that coloring a mandala reduces anxiety. Article here. Research here.
  • Art therapy improves mood, and reduces pain and anxiety when offered at bedside during acute hospital treatment. Article here.

Decreases Stress Levels

  • A study from the University of Westminster found that participants’ stress levels decreased after a lunchtime visit to an art gallery. Article here. Research here.
  • Adults may experience a measurable reduction in their cortisol levels (“stress hormone”) after a 45-minute art making session. Article here. Research here.

Enhances your Memory

  • Drawing enhances memory. According to research by Jeffrey Wammes and his team at the University of Waterloo in Canada, drawing may be the most reliable way to enhance memory.  Article here. Research paper here.

Enhances your Mood

  • Drawing can be a way to distract yourself from a current, negative emotion and after 15 minutes improve your mood. Article here. Research here.

Helps you Concur Your Fears

  • A study showed that writing down your fears gets you one step closer to getting passed that fear. Article here. Research here.

Helps you Understand Yourself

  • Museum visitors make use of exhibitions to better define and understand themselves. Article here. Research here.

Improves Health

  • In recent years, research has found that it [expressive writing] improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis; helps with recovery from childhood sexual abuse and postpartum depression; and improves the state of mind in those with Parkinson’s, cancer and many other health conditions.” Article here.

Process Emotions

  • Keeping a journal helps you work through your emotions. Article here. Research here.

Provides a Transcendent Experience

  • Museums create a space for a numinous (deep engagement or transcendence, empathy, and awe or reverence) experience. Article here. Research here.

Provides a Meditative Experience

  • Looking at contemplative buildings creates a state of peacefulness and relaxation, lessening of mind wandering, increasing of attention, and deepening of experience. Article here.