The Value of the Arts
The arts shape Australia’s culture, create prosperity and drive productivity.
Research shows that learning about the arts helps students to develop critical and creative thinking skills. As Australia’s National Cultural Policy says every student should have the opportunity to receive an arts education – creativity in schools is a vital 21st century skill that drives innovation.
We have been encouraging students, teachers and schools to show us their work so that we can celebrate their achievement and, most importantly, learn from what we see.
Our annual art exhibition meets two of the goals of the National Cultural Policy. We are supporting excellence and the special role of artists and their creative collaborators as the source of original work and ideas, and we are helping to ensure that Australian creativity thrives in the digitally enabled 21st century.
It might be a modest contribution, but since our first exhibition in 2005, 102 Independent schools from throughout Victoria have exhibited 1573artworks in 13 major public exhibitions and through our online art gallery.
The arts contribute to the Gross Domestic Product; they provide real and sustainable career paths allowing artists to work at the highest levels across all art forms, and they meet the need for creativity and innovation that ensures industry and commerce remain viable.
As important as this is, the arts and arts learning do not have to be justified, they are of intrinsic value.
You will understand this when you examine the 189 artworks created in traditional and digital media that are on display in our 2013 exhibition.
We congratulate and thank the artists, their teachers and schools – and of course the proud parents and families.
Michelle Green
Chief Executive
Independent Schools Victoria