Why do artists create?

Ever realize a big problem with a PYP unit of inquiry right in the middle of it? It happens!  We were doing How We Express Ourselves with our Grade 3's and our Arts Team is integrating with the homerooms based on the premise that Artists create art to evoke a response.  Wish I could qualify that central idea with "sometimes."

The unit traditionally was great collaboration between music and visual arts as well and it culminates in highly creative stop motion animation videos that have custom-made sound tracks that the learners create in music class. We co-teach the concept of a narrative arc in both music and artistic terms and the stop motions are all meant to provoke a response in the audience. The "film festival" and mini art show that parents come in to see is the cherry on top.

Fantastic stuff, but when a Grade 3 teacher described one of her students digging into the "why" she created a piece outside of class, we stepped back a bit and realized a problem.  Kids don't to create to evoke a response, most of them anyway. Not authentic. Evoking a response is ONE reason artists create art, but certainly not the only one. Why were we as a team limiting our learners to this one aspect of inspiration?

So, why do artists create art?  I made a few visuals to share with my students and hopefully make them realize that one size does not fit all, and it sparked a bigger conversation-- is this a complete list?  What would you add or take away, and why?  Can you rate these in order of importance and explain your thinking?  Might your answers change depending upon your cultural upbringing, gender or age?

Looking forward to working with our Grade 3 team to re-look at this unit.  What stories can art tell? might be a good starting point.  The posters we made to support this unit are available to purchase here.