NiTRO + Creative Matters

Perspectives on creative arts in higher education

New article: Descent of creative arts in Australian universities

A new article in The Monthly by Professor Julian Meyrick charts the problems being experienced in Australian university performing arts today. Professor Meyrick called on the DDCA and ACUADS to focus on the issues at the upcoming joint Forum:

“This article discusses the grim fate of Australian university drama departments as a proxy for what is happening to many creative arts programs at the current time. It lists the numerous drama departments that have been adversely affected by cuts to the sector in 2020-21, and identifies some of the chronic issues facing the creative arts in the modern corporatized education environment. These issues must be confronted directly, and I call upon the DDCA and ACUADS to lead an inquiry into the state of all creative arts programs nationwide. The creative arts make a highly particular and valuable contribution to the life of the Australian community. I describe this and show why it is important to safeguard their teaching now and into the future.”

The article is available at: https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2021/october/1633010400/julian-meyrick/drama-hell#mtr

Other recent news

Other related news

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The DDCA together with DASSH (Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities) made a submission to the National Cultural Policy review of Revive. Our submission recognised the important architecture of the existing 5 pillars that work to support First Nations First; A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure; […]

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APPLY: 2026 DDCA AWARDS

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OUT NOW Evaluating creative practice research: A new framework

ABSTRACT It has been widely noted that creative practice research agitates in positive ways certain attitudes, understandings and/or practices towards ‘knowledge’ and ‘research’ within the university context. Not only this, or partly because of this, creative practice research complicates established scholarly protocols of assessment and evaluation. This has been a topic of concern and debate […]

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Arts education in Australia is at a critical turning point

Recent national media coverage has highlighted significant and ongoing declines in Arts education and training across schools and universities. Fewer students are able to access Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts, and this has serious consequences for young people, for education, and for Australia’s cultural future. The National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) […]

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“Australia in danger of becoming an ‘artless country’”

Read The Guardian’s coverage on Sandra Gattenhof and John Nicholas Saunders’ research into The Polycrisis for Arts and Creative Education in Australia: Australia in danger of becoming an ‘artless country’ as enrolments in creative courses collapse, reported by Caitlin Cassidy . “Australia risks becoming an “artless country” if it does not address the long-term decline in enrolments in […]

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Announced: Discovery Projects 2026 round 1  

The ARC has announced recipients of Discovery Project grants for 2026 round 1. An impressive number of creative practice research projects have been funded that span across the disciplines and wide range of subject matter – below is just a snapshot. See the full list of funded projects here. Congratulations to all recipients. Uncreative Australia: […]

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