Many executives believe that arts education and engagement throughout life significantly improve workforce skills and have contributed to their own career success. Our research – the first that specifically studied the role of arts engagement on workforce skills – shows that executives believe there is a strong connection between one’s arts education and his or her potential for professional success. Therefore, to deprive students access to arts-related skills may also deprive them of workforce skills. When access to arts education is not available to all students, this skills gap becomes an opportunity gap as well.