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

Update: NCGP review

The ARC held an online consultation today on the Second Policy Review Discussion Paper on the National Competitive Grants Program for discipline Peak Bodies and Learned Academies. The DDCA was pleased to attend and represent the interests of its creative arts members. The ARC is clear in their desire to collaborate with the Peak Bodies […]

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DDCA response to the National Competitive Grants Program Policy Review

The Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts (DDCA), Australia’s peak body for tertiary creative arts education and research, congratulates the Australian Research Council for the responsive changes proposed to the National Competitive Grants Program (Discussion Paper, February 2025). The implications of the changes for researchers in the creative arts are broadly positive. […]

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DDCA response to Creative Australia’s Venice Biennale decision

The Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts (DDCA), Australia’s peak body for tertiary creative arts education and research, urges Creative Australia to reconsider its decision to rescind the presentation of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino’s work in the 2026 Venice Biennale Australian pavilion. This decision to override a rigorous and internationally peer-reviewed process […]

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JOIN Australian Cultural Policy Research Association

Colleagues from a number of Australian Universities are proposing a fully-fledged national research association for those researching in the field of cultural policy in Australia. There is a need to reassemble research from across the disciplines of media and cultural studies, arts management, cultural and creative industries, digital humanities, artificial intelligence, creative labour studies, journalism […]

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Consultation open: ARC-Funded Research 

“The Australian Research Council (ARC) has released the Discussion Paper: A New Plan for ARC-Funded Research. The Minister for Education asked the ARC to work with the Department of Education to undertake a Policy Review of the National Competitive Grants Program. The Discussion Paper has been developed following extensive public consultations undertaken with stakeholders in 2024.  […]

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Be an ARC assessor

“The ARC is always looking to expand the talent and resources of the Assessor Community. As an assessor, you will have the chance to familiarise yourself with new cutting edge research, in confidence, within your field of expertise. General Assessor recruitment is completed through an annual call for College of Expert nominations where Universities have […]

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