New! Fall 2010 Courses and Events Calendar!
Adult Art Education Survey
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Survey Drawing Winner: JoAnn Neven!
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About CIAA
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The Central Iowa Art Association is a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to enriching the Central Iowa Community through teaching and providing awareness in fine arts.
Since 1946, the CIAA has been serving the Marshalltown area by providing art classes and workshops for all ages, as well as hosting special events. Volunteers are always needed. If you like art, if you like helping children, if you are good at hosting a party, decorating, folding newsletters, answering the phone, or just being friendly we could use your help!
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Why IS ART SO IMPORTANT? 
Some may think supporting the arts is frivolous when there are so many more important things in this world needing attention, but research shows that art has many unexpected benefits for the participants and for the society at large.
Participating in the arts nurtures cognitive, social, and personal competencies
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Arts participation can increase academic achievement
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Participation can decrease youth involvement in delinquent behavior
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Art can improve youth attitudes toward self & others
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Creating art contributes to improved critical thinking, problem solving & decision-making
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The arts involve communication, manipulation, interpretation & understanding complex symbols (as do language & math -- not so very different)
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Art fosters higher order thinking skills: Analysis, Synthesis, & Evaluation
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Art engages multiple skills & abilities
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Art participation develops Imagination & Judgment
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Art participation helps overcome disadvantaged backgrounds
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There are opportunities to learn from Artist mentors
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The arts instill foundational employment skills: reasoning, decision making, creative thinking, problem solving, and visualizing.