Following WWII, there was a strong push and a solid foundation to provide arts education to both teachers and children in schools. Art advisers supported and inspired teachers while many early-career artists trained at The Auckland College of Education; which later become the Faculty of Education and would merge with Auckland University. Practices included painting, print-making, weaving and ceramics.
The university would then buy these artworks and as a result now has a considerable collection which is currently on display in an exhibition called Hands On at the Auckland University General Library until 16 July. The collection includes works by more than 100 artists including Len Castle, Barry Brickell and Ralph Hotere.
But in 1989, after the introduction of Tomorrow's Schools, the style of education changed to focus more on measurable outcomes, set standards and less on creativity. In the past 20 years there's been further reduction in time allocated to arts education and trainee teachers to gain experience in the arts leading to a decline in focus on the arts within schools. That level of support and training for teachers is no longer there. This is despite international evidence showing arts-rich schools do better.
Hands On celebrates a time when arts education flourished, was prioritised and more heavily integrated into the wider school curriculum. Auckland University Arts Curator, Madeleine Gifford, speaks to Culture 101 about the exhibition.
