Cutting Culture
Slashing arts and humanities programs may balance budgets today, but will it bankrupt the soul of higher education tomorrow?
By Sheri Webber
In recent years, the study of fine arts and the humanities has faced an unprecedented and destructive tide of scrutiny and defunding, as colleges and universities across the United States respond to shifting market pressures and political rhetoric. Once considered the heart of a well-rounded education, these disciplines are more often labeled expendable—leading to shocking program eliminations, faculty layoffs, and the not-so-quiet erosion of departments that once defined an institution’s very identity. This trend signals far more than a budgetary adjustment; it marks a profound cultural shift with lasting—and likely unintended—consequences for higher education.
Arts Education and Participation
by the Numbers
American writer Anais Nin allegedly said, “It is the function of art to renew our perception.” Given the unexpected and sometimes extreme responses by universities toward students and faculty concerning the liberal arts and the fine arts, those on the outside looking in may wonder why. Have Americans, in general, lost all regard for the fine arts and liberal arts such as philosophy and history? Is university leadership simply following the lead of public sentiment by slashing these courses and degree programs?
