The Spiritual Arts Foundation ~ Expressing spirituality through the arts

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Children & Young People

Every society entrusts its future to the generations growing up within it. The experiences children and young people encounter, the opportunities available to them and the capacities they develop during their formative years often shape far more than individual lives. They influence the character, resilience and cultural vitality of the society those young people will eventually inherit.

For this reason, increasing attention is being given to the conditions that help young people flourish. Alongside education, family support and community engagement, creativity is emerging as a factor that deserves closer consideration.

Young people today face a complex combination of pressures. Academic expectations, social demands, economic uncertainty and the realities of life in an increasingly digital environment can create challenges that are difficult to navigate. At the same time, concerns surrounding mental health have become more pronounced. Research suggests that around one in five children and young people now experience a probable mental health condition, prompting renewed interest in approaches that can strengthen wellbeing and resilience before difficulties become entrenched.

Creative participation has become one area of growing interest. Evidence increasingly suggests that engagement with music, visual arts, writing, theatre, dance and other forms of creative expression can contribute positively to mental wellbeing. Young people frequently report gains in confidence, self-esteem, emotional resilience, enjoyment and a stronger sense of purpose. Creative activity provides a space in which experiences can be explored, emotions expressed and perspectives developed in ways that are often difficult to achieve through conventional academic learning alone.

This capacity for exploration is particularly relevant during childhood and adolescence, when individuals are still developing their understanding of themselves and others. Through artistic expression, young people encounter different perspectives, engage with complex emotions and develop empathy. Such experiences contribute not only to emotional wellbeing but also to the social understanding that underpins healthy relationships.

Creative engagement also encourages habits of mind that extend well beyond the arts. Curiosity, imagination, critical thinking, adaptability, innovation and problem-solving are increasingly recognised as qualities that will help people navigate a rapidly changing world. For many educational researchers, creativity is no longer viewed as an optional supplement to learning but as one of its essential dimensions.

The arts possess another quality that is easy to overlook: they bring people together. Young people rehearse, collaborate, perform and create alongside one another, developing communication skills, mutual respect and a sense of belonging through shared endeavour. At a time when loneliness and social isolation are increasingly recognised as challenges affecting younger generations, opportunities for genuine participation and connection carry particular value.

Access to these opportunities, however, remains uneven. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds often face greater barriers to participation in arts programmes, cultural activities and creative experiences. As a result, many researchers and cultural organisations argue that access to creativity should be considered part of a broader commitment to opportunity, inclusion and social fairness.

For The Spiritual Arts Foundation, the significance of this extends beyond artistic development alone. Young people are not simply future audiences; they are the future creators, musicians, writers, performers, filmmakers and cultural leaders whose work will shape the cultural landscape of the decades ahead.

The spiritual arts bring an additional dimension to this process. Alongside the development of creative skills, they invite reflection on identity, values, meaning and human experience. These are questions that naturally emerge as young people begin to establish a sense of who they are and how they wish to engage with the world around them.

The strongest case for creativity may ultimately be the simplest. Childhood and adolescence are periods of becoming. During those years, young people are not merely acquiring knowledge or preparing for employment; they are forming their understanding of themselves, others and the possibilities available to them. Creative experiences contribute to that process in ways that often endure long after specific lessons have been forgotten. Supporting creativity is therefore not simply an investment in culture. It is an investment in human potential.

Key Findings

Around 1 in 5 children and young people are estimated to have a probable mental health condition.
Creative engagement is associated with improved confidence, self-esteem, resilience and wellbeing.
Arts activities can support emotional regulation, social connection and a sense of belonging.
Research suggests regular arts engagement can improve adolescent mental health and wellbeing.
Creative participation helps develop communication, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Many young people report declining access to creative opportunities and community spaces.