You can learn a lot about a society from what it chooses to fund, or cut. Recently, New Zealand has seen Art History chopped from the NCEA curriculum. There was no public debate and certainly no consultation with the arts sector. Just a stealthy deletion, as though art doesn’t matter.  

Removing Art History from schools is one of the most disappointing things this government has done. It seems we don’t value something unless we can measure an immediate benefit.

As the founder of Muse Gallery, I see first-hand the joy people get from engaging with art – the way it stops them when they’re on the move or passing by the window, holds their attention, unlocks something. It’s not just the privileged who get to feel that – it’s literally anyone. 

And that’s why I feel that this decision is short-sighted. It diminishes the subject and it tells young people that the ability to analyse, question and interpret is worthless. It signals that culture doesn’t count. 

We’re told that one reason for its removal is that our curriculum needs to be “future focused” and that studying Art History doesn’t necessarily result in employment. Seriously, does everything we learn have to have a direct relationship to the job market? And do we even know what the job market of the future will be?

We’re very happy telling young people that they’ll need to adapt, think critically and pivot – that most awful of buzzwords. Well, Art History develops those very abilities. It shows students how to read symbolism and how to place an image in its time. It delivers a deeper and richer understanding of human experience and social change. It creates opportunities to engage in Māori heritage, and learn about other ancient and modern cultures from across the globe.

Pray we don’t see a return to the violent ignorance of the fascist years, when the Nazi regime designated modern art – including Cubist and Surrealist paintings – as “degenerate”. They were ripped from galleries, stripped of their frames, defaced with slogans and paraded around Germany in exhibitions designed to mock them. Millions came, many to jeer, but many to look. We know that this happened because we know art’s past.

We are entering another era of cultural control. Trump’s America is once again declaring what is acceptable art and what isn’t. And we are rushing headlong into an AI future where the meaning of authorship is up for grabs. In times like these, we need art more than ever. Art helps us navigate complexity, challenge the dominant narrative and bring to light things that are otherwise ignored.

Like the “you won’t get a job learning art history” trope, another fallacy I hear is that art is for the privileged. But living with art isn’t for the wealthy alone, just as poverty of spirit isn’t confined to the poor. Our human race has always seen and appreciated art everywhere, from cave art to street art to body art. And every epoch in history has a corresponding art movement that speaks of the hopes, fears and aspirations of those living through it.

By cutting Art History from our schools, we send a message that the role of the artist doesn’t matter and that the stories they tell and experiences they interpret have no place in our national conversation.

But artists need supporting, and support only comes when people understand the role art plays in society.

If we keep teaching only what is easily measured in pass marks and job numbers, we can expect a generation that will blindly follow instructions but won’t challenge anything. That’s simply not acceptable to me.

It is time to stand up and underline to the government the intangible benefits of appreciating art.

Kaye McGarva is an artist and founder of Muse Gallery www.museart.nz, currently for sale.