Art is all around us. Whether you hear your favorite song on the radio or drive by a gorgeous mural, you experience art every day. We know that these meeting points elevate our everyday experiences, but it’s common to lose sight of the overall impact of the arts on communities. Art, in its many forms, is something that we usually indulge in at our leisure. Each of us have our own choice of art that we enjoy- some of us might like to read, some paint, while others watch movies. Each of these is a separate form of art in its own right, and they all provide the much needed respite from our daily hectic lives. While we are enjoying a piece of art- whether by actively creating the art or appreciating an existing creation- we are transported away from our daily grind for the time being, which in turn energizes us and leaves us more capable of handling life after the intermission.All art brings peace and tranquility in its own way. Now a lover of folk music might find only cacophony and discord in death metal, and a chick lit fan will cringe at the melancholy in Kurosowa’s movies. But each of these caters to a particular audience, and for that niche set, it brings peace. For some people, peace is in getting to escape from daily life for some time, while for some others, it’s in knowing that there are others sharing their trials and tribulations. On the other side of the table, art is often an expression of pent up emotions, which bring peace in the wake of their release.