Ms Kate Von Rock, an arts educator specialising in creative programs that support young people’s learning, wellbeing, and personal growth, says art education matters now more than ever.
In a Tasmanian classroom, a teenager worked quietly before her canvas, brush moving across the surface. The class passed without her noticing. She was completely absorbed in watching her idea come alive. Later she explained, “Painting made everything go quiet for a while.” What she was describing is known as flow state, the experience where concentration, creativity, and wellbeing coincide. For many young people, especially in today’s climate of social pressure and digital distraction, art classrooms provide one of the few spaces where flow can be found.
Research confirms what students intuitively know, art education enriches learning well beyond the classroom. Peer-reviewed studies consistently show that participation in the arts improves cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, and critical thinking, skills increasingly valued in workplaces shaped by rapid technological change. Neuroscientific evidence highlights that making art strengthens neural pathways associated with memory, attention, and emotion regulation. These benefits extend across learning, supporting academic achievement in all subjects.
Equally important are the links between art and wellbeing. A 2022 review published in Frontiers in Psychology found that arts engagement significantly reduces stress and symptoms of anxiety, while increasing resilience and social connection. Given that one in five young Australians reports struggling with mental health each year, these benefits are not secondary. They are essential. So why are we seeing less arts education in schools?
Art education also fosters identity and belonging, particularly relevant in a diverse, multicultural society. Studies in Australian schools show that culturally inclusive arts programs not only support First Nations storytelling and heritage but also encourage intercultural understanding among peers. This builds empathy, combats prejudice, and strengthens social cohesion, traits our communities urgently need. These outcomes also align with the Australian Curriculum’s general capabilities, which emphasise critical and creative thinking, ethical understanding, and intercultural awareness.
Integrating Art into the Classroom
Art education doesn’t need to be confined to the school art room. Integrating artistic practices across subjects can enrich learning and engage diverse learners. In literacy, students might illustrate scenes from novels or create visual poetry. In science, drawing diagrams or building models promotes spatial reasoning and conceptual understanding. History lessons can utilise role-play, costume design, or creating muralled timelines of historical events as learning tools. These interdisciplinary approaches not only deepen comprehension but also allow students to express knowledge in varied and creative ways.
Teachers can also use art to support wellbeing and classroom culture. Simple practices like starting the day with a mindful drawing activity or using music to transition between tasks can reduce anxiety and improve focus. Collaborative art projects – such as murals or performances – build teamwork and a sense of belonging.
Importantly, integrating art doesn’t require specialist training. Many resources and professional development programs are available to support generalist teachers. Schools can also partner with local artists or cultural organisations to bring expertise into the classroom. These collaborations enrich the curriculum and connect students with their community.
By embedding art into everyday learning, educators encourage creativity, engagement, and emotional literacy. In doing so, they create classrooms that are not only academically uncompromising but also fun, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of today’s learners.
As we prepare young Australians for an unpredictable future, art education equips them with timeless capabilities: creativity, adaptability, and courage. It is not a luxury subject but a critical foundation for meeting the educational, social, and cultural needs of Australia’s next generation. Supporting the arts in schools is not optional. It is an investment in young people’s minds, wellbeing, and collective future, now more than ever.
