Why Visual Arts Education Matters - Shaping the Future of Visual Arts Education

This panel will explore the transformative impact of visual arts education on shaping resilient, adaptable, and creative learners who are well-equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. At a time of significant curriculum reform, the visual arts stand as a powerful discipline for cultivating critical and creative thinking, while also providing a framework for students to engage with contemporary challenges, question assumptions, and imagine alternative futures.

Through discussion with leading educators, artists, and researchers, the panel will explore how a forward-thinking and rigorous curriculum fosters innovation and interdisciplinary practice. The conversation will highlight the ways visual arts education empowers students to navigate complexity, develop transferable skills, and contribute to cultural and social transformation. Participants will consider how art education not only nurtures individual creativity but also reinforces the interconnectedness of art, culture, and innovation in preparing the thinkers, makers, and leaders of tomorrow.

The panel will also consider the role of tertiary education in shaping the future of the visual arts. Universities and art schools are critical in advancing research, fostering innovation, and preparing the next generation of artists, educators, and cultural leaders. This connection between secondary and tertiary education highlights the importance of sustained pathways that nurture creative practice, scholarship, and leadership across all levels of learning.