Giving Compass' Take:

• This article proves the importance of promoting arts education because jobs that use creativity are less likely to be replaced by technology such as AI and robots. 

• Where does arts education fit into your overall giving strategy?

• Here's an article on supporting the arts in America's schools. 

You can’t beat a good paradox. One of my favorites comes from Peter Moravec, a scientist at Carnegie Mellon University in the US — he points out that lots of things that humans find difficult, and have to study for years to master — such as chess, complex mathematics and financial analysis — are actually tasks that computers excel at.

Meanwhile, things that come naturally to a young child — recognizing a face, interacting with people, moving around and so on — are some of the toughest skills to teach machines.

That’s great news because it shows how we can ensure we don’t lose out to technology — by doing more of what humans are good at, and nurturing people’s creative abilities. 

According to a report by the Education Policy Institute, the number of hours secondary schools spend teaching the arts has been reduced by 17 percent in recent years, while the number of students taking at least one creative subject at GCSE level has fallen fast.  Changes to school funding are further adding to the squeeze. A recent BBC survey found that nine in 10 schools are cutting back on lesson time, staff or facilities in at least one arts subject. 

But if Britain is going to keep producing the employment, businesses, and industries of the future, we’re going to need more than philanthropy — government needs to step up and make sure arts subjects are properly taught in schools. There would be plenty of other benefits too.

Read more about the importance of arts programs in schools by Rohan Silva at The Evening Standard.