Australia in danger of becoming an ‘artless country’ as enrolments in creative courses collapse

A new study indicates Australia is facing a decline in creative arts education, potentially leading to an "artless country." Published in the Australian Journal of Education, the research highlights decreasing student enrollment in creative arts at both high school and university levels. This decline coincides with the axing of over 40 creative courses and degrees in the past decade. Researchers attribute the drop in enrollment to factors such as surging costs under the Morrison government’s job-ready graduate scheme. The study suggests that the reduction in creative arts programs and student participation poses a long-term risk to Australia's cultural landscape.