A major new study has found that enrolments in creative arts subjects across Australian schools and universities have fallen sharply in recent years, prompting warnings from educators and industry advocates that the nation risks undermining its cultural and creative capacity.

Researchers report that both high school and higher education participation in disciplines such as drama, dance, media, music and visual arts have dropped significantly, with some universities discontinuing dozens of creative arts degrees amid broader shifts in education funding and policy priorities.

These trends, which have accelerated since the implementation of the “job-ready graduates” policy that raised student fees for creative subjects, have coincided with a reduction in the number of courses offered and a weakening pipeline for the creative workforce.

The Australian Journal of Education study found that enrolments in arts subjects at Year 12 level have fallen by more than twenty per cent in the past eight years, with dramatic declines in specific areas including drama (-39 per cent) and dance (-38 per cent).

At the tertiary level, almost fifty creative arts degrees have been cut between 2018 and 2025, in some cases eliminating entire disciplines at certain institutions.

Advocates argue that the fee increases associated with the Job Ready Graduates scheme — which raised students’ contributions for creative arts degrees substantially higher than for other fields — have disincentivised prospective students from pursuing creative pathways.

Professor Sandra Gattenhof, co-author of the study, warned the steep falls in enrolments and course offerings threaten Australia’s ability to sustain a vibrant cultural sector and nurture future creators, educators and cultural workers.

National arts education advocates have echoed this concern, noting that the ongoing erosion of arts education pathways could limit access to creative study and hollow out the nation’s cultural and artistic ecosystems.

The broader policy context has seen substantial government investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, while measures aimed specifically at supporting arts education have been limited.

Industry groups, university leaders and educators are calling for urgent reforms to funding frameworks and targeted support to reverse the decline, arguing that creative disciplines are essential not only for cultural vitality but also for broader skills such as critical thinking and innovation.

Amid these mounting pressures, stakeholders have urged policymakers to address the structural challenges facing arts education to ensure Australia’s cultural landscape remains dynamic and inclusive.