I can't speak for everybody, but to me art is important because it helps you understand a lot about the world around you. That's a little vague. What I mean to say is that little things that you wouldn't normally notice about lets say a face stand out to you. Do you pay attention to the way somebody's eye rests in their socket? Or to the pattern of their hairline? I constantly find myself picking up those details for future reference, and in the process appreciating what's going on around me a lot more. You should try it out.