Is Tertiary Arts Education Funding Adequate? — 21.08.2011
First it was ANAM, then the VCA. Most recently Monash University has signaled that its Glass Studio will close. Is the way tertiary arts education in Australia funded adequate?
In May 2009, the Commonwealth released its “Transforming Australia’s Higher Education System” package of policy announcements in response to the Bradley Review of Higher Education which proposed a 10% increase in base funding levels – a final report is due from the Federal government October this year. While the arts have won a hard fought place in the National Curriculum, how is tertiary education placed to ensure quality graduates? With the government looking to the arts to provide input into the Creative Industries, and with much of the required research and development being undertaken at a postgraduate level, how will our new economy fare without adequately trained University graduates?