{
  "id": 16947146,
  "title": "Creative arts enrolments are dropping for Year 12. Here’s what parents and students should know",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/creative-arts-enrolments-are-dropping-for-year-12-heres-what-parents",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T19:10:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/creative-arts-enrolments-are-dropping-for-year-12-heres-what-parents-and-students-should-know-295252"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Year 12 enrolments in creative arts subjects have been declining for several years, according to national data. Between 2015 and 2023, enrolments in drama, dance, music and visual arts all decreased by double-digit percentages. Reasons for this trend are multi-faceted. Curriculum priorities that favor science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects have contributed to the arts being seen as less valuable for future employment opportunities. Students and parents also worry that creative arts subjects may negatively impact university entrance prospects due to scaling issues, as some believe these subjects do not perform well on the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). Curriculum changes in drama and music have limited student creativity. Data shows a significant drop in male and female students choosing arts subjects in Year 12, indicating this is not just a gendered issue. These subjects offer opportunities to explore emotions, empathy and gender norms through performance. Academically, they demand critical thinking, creativity and collaboration – skills vital in an AI-driven world. Reversing the decline requires systemic changes to curriculum, funding, teacher training and public understanding of the value of creative learning.",
  "summary": "National figures show between 2015 and 2023, enrolments fell by 39% in drama and 38% in dance.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}