Why Do We Need Art? What Do We Gain By Being Creative? And Other Big Questions

By Jessica Standage

What use is the imagination? Can art change anything? What do we gain by being creative?

Take a closer look at these And Other Big Questions in Why do we need Art? – a highly topical look at the role of art and the importance of creativity in our lives and the wider world. Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young are joined by a range of contributors, including Kate Clanchy, Lemn Sissay, Preti Taneja and Andria Zafirakou, and more, who write about their relationship with art and describe what being creative means to them and to others.

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Watch the video below to discover more about Why Do We Need Art from the authors and contributors, as they talk about what art means to them, and answer questions sent in from school children.

Find each contributor’s section at:

00:05 Annemarie Young

01:38 Michael Rosen’s answer

03:44 Lemn Sissay

05:11 Andria Zafirakou

07:19 Kate Clanchy

08:54 Preti Taneja

11:40 Mathilda Crompton

Discussion Questions

Watch the video with your students and share ideas on the questions below:

Which artists inspire you? Why?
What does art mean to you?
Do you think human beings need art? Why or why not?
Where do you think artists find inspiration?
What do we gain by being creative?
Can art change anything?
Where do you get ideas for your own art?

Explore creativity with these ideas to try at home or school

Draw some doodles on a piece of paper. You can make lots of small ones, or you can embellish one and keep adding to it.
Sketch a plan of your perfect room, home or school.
Design a poster for a cause that’s important to you.
Make up songs or invent a dance routine.
Read a poem you like. Without thinking about it too much, write down the first line of the poem and continue the poem with your own thoughts.

Find more ideas in the book!

Why Do We Need Art? is part of the groundbreaking and important And Other Big Questions series, which offers balanced and considered views on the big issues we face in the world we live in today.

Download a poster for your classroom or library: