This week, I am guest blogging at MissionRead, a grassroots literacy campaign designed to stress the importance of reading at all levels, regardless of age, gender or socioeconomic status.  I hope you’ll go check out my thoughts about Why Picture Books Are Important over at their place.

In the process of writing that piece, part of my research was to look up some inspiring quotes advocating for the arts in general. None of which I ended up using in that particular blog. 😦 BUT…as a Nerdy Chick, I think about lots of different angles, and I decided that this week’s Quotable Nerdy Chick feature is going to be devoted to people who had brilliant things to say about why the arts are so important to support. My favorite thing about these quotes — they don’t all come from expected sources.

Drumroll, please…

“The creative arts are the measure and reflection of our civilization. They offer many children an opportunity to see life with a larger perspective…The moral values we treasure are reflected in the beauty and truth that is emotionally transmitted through the arts. The arts say something about us to future generations.”

–Ann P. Kahn, Former President of The National PTA

“To create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage.”

–Georgia O’Keeffe, Painter

“We need people who think with the creative side of their brains—people who have played in a band, who have painted…it enhances symbiotic thinking capabilities, not always thinking in the same paradigm, learning how to kick-start a new idea, or how to get a job done better, less expensively.”

–Annette Byrd, RN, MPH, US Manager of Work/Life Solutions, GlaxoSmithKline

“Art is fundamental, unique to each of us…Even in difficult economic times – especially in difficult economic times – the arts are essential.”

–Maria Shriver, Award-Winning Journalist and Author

“The arts are not just a nice thing to have; they define who we are as a people.”

–First Lady Michelle Obama

“Art is everywhere, except it has to pass through a creative mind.”
–Louise Nevelson, American Sculptor