At a time when creativity drives our economy and content is defining culture, disinvesting in high school arts programs is a profound miscalculation. An arts education is not extra. Arts education fosters creativity, problem-solving acumen, collaboration, and discipline, skills that employers consistently rank among the most important for the future workforce. Kim Driscoll is the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts and Honorary Co-Chair of Boston Arts Academy Foundation’s Honors 2026 awards event. Denella J. Clark is the president and CEO of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation.