Some people think art such as sculpture and music cannot improve the quality of people’s lives so the government should not spend money on them but on health and defence. What is your opinion?

For centuries, the

arts

have left an imprint in the history of civilisation, inhabiting many forms to reflect the essence of our creativity and unite people across the spectrum of humanity. Yet, there is a notion that government resources should be allocated to

healthcare

systems and national defence

instead

of the

arts

. In

this

essay, I will argue that

arts

can provide benefits that contribute individual’s well-being and a portion of the national budget is needed to support

arts

.

Art

has therapeutic benefits that can help people to manage stress and anxiety. Music,

for example

, has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress.

Additionally

, engaging with

art

forms

such

as painting or sculpture can help people to express themselves and cope with difficult emotions.

Art

therapy is even used by

healthcare

professionals to help patients with mental health conditions,

such

as depression and anxiety.

Therefore

, investing in the

arts

can directly improve the mental health of citizens, which in turn can reduce

healthcare

costs. The idea that the government should prioritise

healthcare

or defence spending over

arts

assumes that these are mutually exclusive investment areas.

However

, it is possible to allocate funds to all of these areas, and

arts

funding only constitutes an insignificant portion. Countries have already spent an exorbitant amount on two former categories; America is illustrative with the federal spending breakdown at 21% on

healthcare

and 10% on defence. In fact, supporting

arts

can indirectly contribute to both of those areas.

For example

,

art

therapy can improve mental health, which can drastically reduce medical care costs; or an increase in the

overall

well-being of citizens can promote a more stable and cohesive nation, enhancing national security. In conclusion, the essential roles of

arts

undeniably improve the quality of life. I believe government investment in

arts

is justifiable when it can positively impact multiple socio-economic aspects.