apropos of my other post on why “live’ matters:

A four-year study by cognitive neuroscientists from seven universities has released new data about the impact of arts study on the brain. Among other specifics, the research shows that music training extends working and long-term memory, and that it aids both reading and geometry skills in children. The research also shows that interest in the performing arts improves motivation and sustained attention. The entire study, funded by the Dana Foundation, demonstrates how arts education is associated with high academic performance.

Read the rest of Agnes Gund’s essay on “taking the arts seriously” over at HuffPo.