What are the Liberal Arts? Simply, liberal arts are skills that 21st century employers are looking for: creative problem solving, team building, global awareness, an understanding of diversity, written and oral communication skills, and more. Since ancient times, the liberal arts have helped humans discover our place in the world and our connections with others. What’s more, we have learned to make wise decisions about who we want to be, how we want to live, and how our choices affect our communities and culture for the better.