Art to be an integral part of holistic education

Previously deemed as nothing more than a way of getting another certificate that might prove useful when it comes to applying to prestigious schools, art education was in the past often marginalized in China's classrooms.

But times are changing now, and so are the mindsets of parents and government officials who are beginning to see art education as an important facet to a child's learning journey.

"Art can teach people to appreciate the beauty in the simplest things and help express one's emotions. It's a process of creative thinking that can cultivate a child's creativity and imagination," says Huang Yue, a mother who a year ago had sent her daughter for art classes at Tomato Art School.