ABSTRACT
Extending the arts experience to all members of our society is of value, not because participants may become the bastions of culture leaving legacies for their children and future generations but rather for the inherently beneficial effects this engagement brings to personal interaction and to the quality of life itself. The enjoyment of success and the laughter that is often attendant upon the arts eventually leads to an increase in self-confidence and self-esteem, and to an increased motivation to participate not just in the arts experience, but in life itself. In areas of personal self-concepts, socialization and environmental enrichment, the arts have a great deal to offer both to the process of reintegration and rehabilitation, and to the individual's overall quality of life.
