The Arts are a fundamental means of expression and communication in all societies. Through the Arts, we gain a sense of our social and individual identity. In Salem-Keizer School District, students receive training in music, visual arts, and drama. Through the Arts, students learn:

• to recognize and value the cultural forms and traditions that constitute artistic heritage
• ways of experiencing, developing, representing, and understanding ideas, feelings, and cultural perspectives
• to think critically, creatively, and reflectively; take risks; be imaginative; explore alternative solutions; and practice and refine techniques
• to engage in discussion and share opinions regarding their own and others' works.

Aesthetics and Art Criticism: Respond to, explain, and analyze works of art, based on technical, organizational, and aesthetic elements.

Create, Present and Perform Art: Use ideas, skills, and techniques in the arts.

Historical and Cultural Perspectives: Understand how works of art relate to the time periods and cultures in which they were created; and how works of art from various time periods and cultures are related.

The Visual Arts are the interpretation of and response to experience in visual form. Visual art works can be two- and three-dimensional. They can express ideas, feelings, and beliefs, or challenge traditional definitions of art. Students explore visual-art techniques and processes that incorporate art, craft, and design in the development of their visual-art knowledge and skills. They reflect upon their own artworks and those of others, discussing, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating visual art from past and present contexts. There are three strands in visual arts.

Strand 1—Aesthetics and Arts Criticism:

Respond to, explain, and analyze works of art, based on technical, organizational, and aesthetic elements. General knowledge and skills:

• Respond to visual-arts works stating reasons for preferences.
• Respond to, explain, and analyze works of art, applying knowledge of technical, organizational (line, texture, color, shape, value, space, repetition, balance, emphasis, contrast, movement, unity), and aesthetic elements.
• Construct meaning from artwork, finding themes and connections.

Use ideas, skills, and techniques in the arts. General knowledge and skills:

• Apply artistic elements and technical skills to create, present (and/or perform) works of art for a variety of audiences and purposes.
• Communicate verbally and in writing about one's own artwork.

Understand how works of art relate to time periods and cultures in which they are created; and how works of art from various time periods and cultures are related. General knowledge and skills:

• Relate works of art from various time periods and cultures to each other.
• Describe how historical and cultural context influence works of art.