Professor Sandra Gattenhof (Queensland University of Technology) and Dr John Nicholas Saunders (Australian Catholic University) have a new peer-reviewed article, The Polycrisis for Arts and Creative Education in Australia, that has just been just been published.
The article raises urgent questions about the future of arts education nationwide.
Drawing on national enrolment data and sector analysis, the research shows sustained declines in:
- Year 12 arts subject participation
- Undergraduate creative arts degree enrolments
- University courses, particularly in regional and smaller institutions
Together, these intersecting pressures form what they describe as a polycrisis. Declining participation, shrinking pathways, course closures and workforce pressures are compounding one another, with serious implications for equity, access, and Australia’s creative and cultural future.
Here is a link to the article:
gattenhof-saunders-2026-the-polycrisis-for-arts-and-creative-education-in-australia (1)
Register your support for a National Inquiry Into Arts Education and Training in Australia: HERE
