The arts are a dynamic presence in our daily lives, enabling us to express our creativity while challenging our intellect. Through the arts, children have a unique means of expression that captures their passions and emotions and allows them to explore ideas, subject matter,and culture in delightfully different ways. Achievement in the arts cultivates essential skills, such as problem solving, creative thinking, effective planning, time management, teamwork, effective communication, and an understanding of technology. The visual and performing arts standards presented here are comprehensive and provide important guidance for schools to prepare curricula for students in prekindergarten through grade twelve. For the four disciplines of dance, music, theater, and visual arts— each with its own body of knowledge and skills—the standards are organized into five strands that are woven throughout all artistic experiences. The standards incorporate both traditional means of artistic expression and newer media, such as cinematography, video, and computer-generated art.
Download the full text of the Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards below.
Revision of these standards due out in early 2019
Visual and Performing Arts, Adopted January 2001 (PDF; 1.7MB; 172pp.)