AAANZ has added its voice to the protests against the proposed removal of art history from the New Zealand School Curriculum.
The AAANZ President Katrina Grant and Aotearoa New Zealand representatives Raymond Spiteri, Linda Tyler and Caroline Vercoe have written to Minister Erica Stanford protesting this proposal:
Letter regarding proposed removal of art history in NZ schools
We write as representatives of the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand, an organisation that represents hundreds of professional art historians, curators, artists and writers across both Australia and New Zealand. As an organisation we are deeply concerned at the announcement that art history may be removed as a standalone subject from the New Zealand Secondary School Curriculum.
Art history is an important field of study for students, and teaching it at school develops stronger students who will go on to work across a range of important areas in cultural heritage, tourism, teaching, conservation and the arts more broadly. It connects several strands of humanities skills including critical visual analysis, historical research, understanding of sources, sophisticated analysis of theory and argument, and it encourages a deeper understanding of diverse cultures. Read more…
An open letter by leaders from the art arts and cultural sector has been published by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and argues for the ongoing importance of teaching art history at school level. Read more
You can add your voice to this protest by writing to the relevant minister.
Office of Hon Erica Stanford
Reception: +64 4 817 6805 | Ministerial Email: e.stanford@ministers.govt.nz |
Web: beehive.govt.nz | Post: Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand