Arts and culture make considerable and crucial contributions to the well-being of a community by:

1. Promoting public dialogue

• Talk and express difficult subjects
• Raise awareness of important issues
• Facilitates learning within and between communities

2. Develops creative learning

• Improves creative thinking abilities in these areas – expression, risk taking and imagination
• Encourages self-directed learning

3. Creates strong community links

• Reduces the sense of isolation in rural areas
• Creates opportunities to make new social contacts
• Increases positive perceptions of the community

4. Serves to promote community mobilization and activism

• Captivates groups and cultivates positive values

5. Builds community capacity and leadership

• Helps people feel better connected, inspired to get involved, and more confident about their abilities to make a difference