April 15th doesn’t just belong to taxes, and we, at the U, are thrilled to be celebrating one of our favorite holidays: World Art Day.

As an institution with a thriving creative culture rich with explorations and offerings in the visual and performing arts, this joyful day provides the impetus to reflect on the value of the arts in our lives. And we are here for it, seizing the opportunity with sincerity.

Because from research output to campus culture, there is little at our institution that isn’t influenced for the better by the arts. Innovation, entertainment, community, understanding, aesthetic, expression, representation — the arts reach every corner and influence each of us whether directly or otherwise.

The effects are real and measurable, and we see them in test scores, bettered health, senses of belonging, and even civic engagement.

And that’s good because the world has a way of continuing to present us new and diverse challenges. To exist is to know struggle. To thrive is to know how to problem solve — and here we have found there is often a unique formula for success.

While we don’t often just give the answers away, today we’ll make it easy. Whether you’re seeking beauty, tackling Friday night’s boredom, working to build community, caring for patients, designing a study, or working to address systemic homogeny, apathy, or misunderstanding: (you guessed it) Arts are the answer.

In celebration, we’re sharing some digital freebies you’re welcome to download and share as we each assess and rejoice the profound ways in which the arts shape our lived experience.

Download and share!