‘A terrible, tragic idea’: Outrage as art history axed from school curriculum

A major backlash is building against the Government’s decision to cut art history as a standalone subject in secondary schools, with 25 leading galleries signing an open letter urging a rethink.

Teachers, students, academics and some of New Zealand’s most successful creatives said the move was short-sighted and will rob young people of a deeper understanding of culture, society and history.

“I was horrified to hear they're going to drop it as a subject,” said Auckland University art history associate professor Dr Linda Tyler.

“It's been around for 50 years. No one's ever thought of tampering with it as it provides such terrific skills.”

Art history taught students how to analyse imagery and ideas across cultures and eras, from ancient civilisations to contemporary New Zealand. Advocates say the subject fostered critical thinking, visual literacy and creativity which extended far beyond the classroom.

Sarah Farrar of the Auckland Art Gallery said removing art history as a subject would close doors for young people.

David White / Stuff

Barbara Ormond, president of the NZ Art History Teachers Association, said she was “very shocked” by the Government’s decision.

“I think it is such an important subject in the 21st century when we have so many images that we are confronted with daily and we need to be able to interpret them well, be able to critically look at them.”

Auckland Art Gallery’s head of curatorial and exhibitions Sarah Farrar said the decision would close doors for young people.

“Many of our staff employed in galleries across the country have studied art history at secondary school or beyond. When the Government quietly dropped art history from the curriculum last week, we were quite dismayed and concerned.”

She added: “We need to remember that access to art history at secondary school is a vital entry point for Māori and Pacific and other students into the world of galleries, libraries, archives and museums.”

Opponents argue the cut undermines a thriving sector which contributed $17.5 billion to the economy each year - about 4.5% of GDP - and supported 117,000 jobs.

Ormond said art history “is so much more than art appreciation, it really isn't that at all.”

“Lawyers, business people have said how rich their lives are because of doing art history.”

Oscar-winning director Dame Jane Campion also weighed in, saying her favourite subject at school was “a crucial step” towards her creative life in film.

In a statement to The Post she said: “Do I think it’s a good idea to scrap art history? No, I think it’s a terrible, tragic idea. Students like myself deserve a chance to discover themselves, find something they feel passionate about and can pursue to enrich their lives.”

The Ministry of Education said art history content would be integrated into other visual arts subjects such as design, painting or photography. But critics argued many art history students did not take those classes, meaning the subject risked disappearing altogether.

“How do we know about other cultures, how do we know about ancient Egypt, how do people in the northern hemisphere know about the Pacific? It’s through art,” Tyler said.

Stuff has contacted Minister of Education Erica Stanford for comment.

Juliet Speedy/Stuff