Lincoln Center Education Launches 'Think Like An Artist' Video Series

As part of the celebration of its 40th anniversary and in conjunction with the National Arts in Education week, Lincoln Center Education (LCE), today launches a new series called Think Like an Artist, consisting of inspiring videos of leaders who strongly believe that an education infused with the arts leads to originality, effective leadership, a balance between rigor and innovation, and enhanced communication.

Russell Granet, Executive Vice President of Lincoln Center Education, Community Engagement, and International announced the series saying, "Study after study has shown that the arts, when integrated thoughtfully and taught skillfully, are incredibly effective at developing vital skills and preparing students for their academic and professional lives, whether that is in the arts field or another chosen profession."

Leaders from a variety of industries talk about the value a quality arts education brought to their lives and how it helped fuel the success they achieved in their professional careers. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has been playing piano since the age of three, says in her video segment that music has given her a sense of balance and direction like nothing else in her life. Rice explains, "The artist is actually in some ways the highest form of a human being."

The Think Like an Artist video series also features author/speaker Deepak Chopra; Chelsea Clinton,Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation; serial entrepreneur Michael Lazerow; and JetBlue Airways Chairman Joel Peterson.

"Thinking like an artist should be an essential part of everyone's education to connect creativity, imagination, and problem solving," says Granet. "We view this series as a call-to-action to support high quality arts education for all, and a reminder that you are never too old to continue to engage in the arts."

LCE is encouraging viewers to take action by advocating for arts education in their own communities through the following partner organizations and resource links available at ThinkLikeAnArtist.org: advance art programs in schools with the Center for Arts Education's Parent Advocacy Toolkit; explore state policies with Art Education Partnership's ArtScan database; and contact elected officials at the Americans for the Arts Action Center. Additionally, a tax-deductible donation will go directly to supporting LCE's arts-based programs in public and charter schools, teacher training, free and low-cost family programming, and other initiatives designed to close the access gap to the arts.

Lincoln Center Education is encouraging people from all walks of life to celebrate how they Think Like an Artist by sharing stories on social media with the hashtag #ThinkLikeAnArtist.