Why Study Art? | TateShots

We asked leading artists, actors, filmmakers, architects and choreographers why art should be on the curriculum. Watch their responses.
Should art be on the curriculum? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
Featuring: David Hockney, Yinka Shonibare MBE, Michael Craig-Martin, Catherine Opie, Cate Blanchett, Anne-Marie Imafidon, Cornelia Parker, Wolfgang Tillmans, Amanda Levete, Tania Bruguera, Bob and Roberta Smith, Michael Clark, Jacqueline Wilson, Alan Parker and Jeremy Deller.
In October 2018, a landmark research project commissioned by Arts Council England - and involving schools and teachers who work with either the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) or Tate - outlined the overwhelmingly positive benefits of arts and cultural education on the lives of young people.
The research, 'Tracking Arts Learning and Engagement (TALE)', undertaken by the School of Education at the University of Nottingham, has led to calls for urgent change, as thousands of young people and teachers express concern over the impact that declining arts and cultural provision in schools will have on future generations.
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Find out more: goo.gl/Zo5Ncv
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[@mr.ramjangles5165]

Years ago, I had a student in third grade with a heart wrenching background. He made zeros on his first three weeks of tests. It was my first year using art integration in core subjects. I discovered he could draw animals that looked like real photos. When I introduced yarn paintings, he asked if he could paint scenes using opposite colors, or the wrong colors as he said 🙂. I never would have known how gifted he was until I included ART! 🎨👍🏻. Soon, he came out of his shell, because he had something to share!

[@ballsnow6472]

03:06 "Art can access a part of your brain, body, spirit, mind that nothing else can."

[@KyandiSama]

I believe in that 😔✋

[@williamwhite999]

Imagination is greater than knowledge. Einstein

[@bablisingh3113]

But knowledge empowes education Einstein

[@whynot1135]

@@bablisingh3113 education can limit imagination

[@awh6148]

This sounds nice until you see how expensive art and design colleges charge in tuition. Got accepted to SVA and couldn’t go because the tuition was &68,000 a year. Smh

[@Silhouetters]

holy shit I've only paid 500 for the past three years at SGS Stroud. Sounds like you picked the wrong college lol

[@awh6148]

Wow lucky. I’m not going to SVA and instead chose Tyler school of arts at temple university.

[@kcgphotos]

I do art daily - I have an A3 A4 & A5 book of blank paper a pen 3 brushes and cheap water colours - cost $30 per year - I sometimes do 3 paintings a day

[@onlylovestrangers]

That’s because of the government they all used to be free back in the day

[@carpetrainium]

I have been told that 7 of the 10 most expensive undergrad programs are art schools. Check out Indiana Wesleyan University: www.indwes.edu/undergraduate/division-of-art-and-design/ It's a fraction of the price and a great education.

[@jennyhughes4474]

Thank you for putting this up: I make a lot of art but am constantly in doubt about it - I ask myself (and others) 'what is art for?' n when I see all the countless brilliant artwork already in the world I wonder who on earth do I think I am to think my art might be interesting or add to our cultures. Thank you for making this and for putting it up here: the artists you chose say what art is for far better than I ever could and this film and what they say just might stay long enough in my memory (I've got a brain injury and big memory problems) to help me when I'm floundering in doubt and feeling terrible and that making my art is totally pointless. Well, actually, I'm pretty sure I'll forget but maybe then sometime I might remember or be reminded again...

[@mooimacow9533]

Jenny Hughes Hi Jenny! I agree with everything you’ve said. I always question why art is important, and this has really answered me. Also, I hope you’re doing ok! X

[@Sentient.Sentinel]

friendly reminder for you to re-watch this video, in-case you lost your "will" so to say

[@jennyhughes4474]

​@@Sentient.Sentinel Thank you for your kind reminder, watched again now. I'm still struggling on but sadly mega unwanted pack & move from France back to the UK 2 years ago injured my back & neck even more (was already way too injured from 2005, The Big One, caused by NHS medics) and living out of boxes for over 10 years now (way too many moves of lodgings since I lost my home), plus sad (for me) UK weather & landscapes are not inspiring to me at all and it's so cold out and so very little sunshine. Cut off from places and people I knew & am told to 'make new friends' (I'm in my 60s) isn't what I wanted or needed and can't really do now - unsurprisingly. My art's gone off in way too many directions (loads of experiments, variable results) and feel overwhelmed & confused by all my fragmented fractals of ideas & things I want to try out in my art; failing at loads which has made me fearful (and hate wasting time/energy/materials) and I've lost my spontaneity (when I do my best work) and it all hurts so much more to do and I pay for hard work with extra pain because of extra injuries that should have been prevented; none of it is fun any more, no joy in doing it. In other words: I'm still trying but mostly fail; I'm told this is 'normal' for artists but cutting me off from people I love and who were/are important to me is very cruel - as is plonking me in a town I'd never even visited and would never have chosen as a place to live - but I'm 'lucky' I'm not homeless - yet. What about you, do you make (or teach) art, & like looking at it?

[@Devotchik]

I'm one of Bob and Roberta Smith's ex students. Bloody loved my time at art school.. Doesn't have to be a fancy overpriced school, check out the names of the tutors there and research them.. School trends come and go but valuable time spent with a good teacher lasts a lifetime.

[@emre28oz79]

It's great to hear all this ideas, very inspirational 👍🏻

[@ballsnow6472]

03:37 "Art shows us what it is to be human."

[@77777aol]

Art is the finger on the pulse, expressing optimism or pessimism, drawing from the undercurrent of the society around them.

[@keatsgipsy9991]

Such brilliant programming I thank you!

[@antonionegrini5252]

to be an artist for me is to redefine the boundaries of what it means to be human.

[@noaminydiaabante7320]

Its really nice to have knowledge about art and why we have to study it. Life without art is meaningless . Thank you for giving us more insight so that we can really appreciate art.

[@nerdinb.3571]

How is it meaningless exactly? There's so many other things to do than look at shapes or hear music or whatever else is considered art

[@emnms02]

@@nerdinb.3571 yes, just imagine how nice our life would be with no songs on the radio, no movies that touch your heart, no songs that make you feel loved or even to feel what you haven't been through, no netflix and chill and no binge-watching series, no paintings to stare at when you crash at your living room, no way of capturing moments forever in pictures, no one to express a complex emotion they can't put into words, no parties to have fun with friends, no thrill of being teached how to dance by someone you have feelings for, no different clothing to wear, no different designs in logos, cellphones, no signs that only use symbols as in bathrooms for example, no fictional worlds to escape a bit from our reality... Art is everywhere (not saying everything in life is art), and as I once heard "how miserable would humanity be if it weren't for the existance of the sublime?" Creating art makes us human and it has such a big impact in our soul, we're not machines...

[@starjeweller]

Art is about highest sensitivity; different, unique, rarest, visionary... 💡view on the universe around&inside us.

[@ballsnow6472]

03:25 "Art teaches you to deal with the world around you. It's the oxygen that actually makes all the other subjects breathe."

[@cornellwaters9089]

🎨 Thank You!

[@ricv64]

Wally Hedrick, a long forgotten great artist, look him up, pointed out to me decades ago the three themes of art are Sex politics and religion

[@blueshot6211]

thanks Mrs Cartmell

[@TomQuigleyArt]

Great video Tate😊

[@shengshengniu]

MADE MY DAY SHOT

[@jessicadavis3230]

i love this im learnin

[@johncastle8254]

Art is freedom and freedom is dangerous to the establishment ,as John Lennon said “not everything has to be wallpaper .”

[@keatsgipsy9991]

Brilliant

[@alcibarjp]

Beautiful

[@tomek]

This video inspired me, thank you

[@stephendaedalus4003]

Didn't expect Cate Blanchett here. She's a marvelous actress by the way.

[@luizmauricio3745]

amazing

[@ballsnow6472]

03:00 "That you can be whatever you want to be is something that art's only taught me."

[@mayormax2970]

We like this

[@ballsnow6472]

01:04 "Creativity is critical thinking and without it, how are you going to really open up and ask harder questions?"

[@LATREVIGIANA]

“ Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere”. G.K. Chesterton

[@florenciadiazmercado715]

Cate Blanchett = ART

[@ballsnow6472]

02:20 "Art is a reflection of the society."

[@lissy_lee]

Please can anyone help!! How is this painting called and who is the painter: 2:24

[@Tate]

Hi Lissy, it's called Strip. You find out more about the work here: www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/richter-strip-921-6-t14351

[@zumhoferpreiss7774]

My dream is to study art and my parents love my art and say they support me but they don't want me to study art. I feel the pressure of having to choose science over art because with studying sth like biology, physics or medicine you have "a future" and "a real job that's secure" I understand them and i am interested in science but art is just what I love I'm scared that if I choose science, I'll forever regret not having studied art and I'm also scared that if I study art, I'll just end up failing in establishing a career and have to live from part time jobs and won't ever "make it" - not money wise only but just in general.

[@nerdinb.3571]

Do what you want

[@thebakagirl5293]

Hey. How r u now? Bc im in the exactly same place as you. Im in high school and I chose sciences… when I finally convinced my mom it was too late for me to change. I can always do the exams for artes at the end of high school, but bc of missing stuff like geometry, history and culture of arts, drawing, etc im afraid of not going great… And I try to do what I want, but im already going every day to school to study things like maths, physics, chemistry, biology, etc and that gets me tired a lot. I hope I can do it

[@ballsnow6472]

00:35 "Art is connected to life."

[@jae1k279]

This is critical

[@DucksWearsMart3ns]

Tillmans❣️

[@Nikya2t]

♥️

[@sharminkaniz5086]

💖

[@juliag.1231]

who made that pictures at 3:13?? (The white one) Thanks!

[@Tate]

Hi Julia, The artist is Julie Mehretu. The work 'Mogamma, A Painting in Four Parts: Part 3' is currently on display at Tate Modern: www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/mehretu-mogamma-a-painting-in-four-parts-part-3-t13997

[@juliag.1231]

You are my heros! You took the time to answer my question.. THANK YOU! I guess I ´ll have to make a trip to London soon....

[@taletree]

We are building a digital platform for kids to archive and show off their art or creative projects. Through this process, kids have the freedom to express their ideas and minds in whatever creative form they want. Each week, our kids gather with their group and discuss their creations. What they say about their own creations and others' is really interesting and amazing. I do think it's a really important thing for kids to understand that they have the freedom to create whatever they want to and then they take the take to discuss and reflect on their creations. That whole cycle nurtures their creative desires and abilities.

[@ericswain4177]

As an art collector, I concur with the stated views. But I am continually disturbed by the added if not irrelevant distractions and the trappings of the surrounding industry thankfully left out of this video.

[@jacekpokrak9258]

compmaturism is a gate to ART

[@emilenys7440]

Does anyone know the title/the artist of the artwork shown at 1:10?

[@Tate]

Hi Emile, These are etchings by the artist Dia al-Azzawi titled 'We Are Not Seen, But, Corpses (The Massacre of Sabra and Shatila. 4 of 8 and 5 of 8 )'

[@emilenys7440]

Wow!! Thank you so much!

[@YMeDoyElLujazo]

@@Tate Picasso rip off

[@user-cu3dj9jc1u]

Yes yes yes

[@PleadHelp]

Jeez I’m just here for school

[@vixo8266]

I’m here for cate

[@wilfredchong805]

Bad, where subtitles

[@faithtesterxo9025]

😎😎😎😎😎

[@andreabammybartlet8754]

O YES the truth.

[@wot8839]

No one being forced to watch this like me?

[@oshaun304]

Yessss 😂😂😂

[@gaille5506]

my professor forced me because we have art subject.

[@TriciaSuave]

hello mga ka online class

[@MariaJesus-te5ym]

Artist born artist

[@machinegameplays9629]

i live in brasil i am study inglish classroms i am very noob in inglish thx to view this coment pls put your avaliative note for me plz

[@olgarykhlevych5584]

Класс! ВИДЕО ПРЕКРАСНОЕ! 💖😍🎼🌟🔥👍👍👍👍

[@asergon]

It appears to be artist is to be politician, historian and philosophian together. it's not easier than another profession. It must be harder

[@thorkindafunny]

wow hela likes art

[@LATREVIGIANA]

“Art is the signature of man”. G.K. Chesterton

[@ruly8153]

1:49

[@daoancestor8584]

Sigh, I wish I could be an accomplished artist someday.

[@changxunen1834]

Hakiim dun cry lah

[@nebbula8885]

Anyone else here for school? imagine doing school

[@LATREVIGIANA]

The problem with many modern art schools these days is that they often try to encourage the creation of art without giving the students the tools required to do so. Students are often given a piece of blank paper and told to “create something”. That is akin to sitting a student down at the piano and asking him or her to instantly compose a song. Or they are told that they should go to art school to become better artists but are then told that there are no standards in art and that you can never say that one piece of art is better than another. So which is it? Why are we telling them to learn how to be better when there is no “better”. No wonder many “so called artists” end up resorting to horrid modern abstract garbage that a three year old can do just as well. I think one of the main things we have to teach our students these days is to yell out that the “emperor has no clothes”.

[@ayhanep311]

Hi po! Sa Bsed Math jan

[@lorenandal994]

Pa subscribe po sa chanel ko ty

[@ballsnow6472]

01:36 "From a top-down level, you don't have innovation if you don't have art."

[@chezza9037]

Anyone at school here

[@jf3039]

Pay for it yourself, study whatever you want.

[@williamwhite999]

Industry ? Who knows

[@SamLeno-iq4ni]

Thanks for the great video.🖐 FYI - You might be interested in a great looking inspirational art book, it's called “The STOP LOOKING START SEEING book”💜💜.

[@TenshinhanIsKing]

you can study at home instead spending money you don't have

[@ballsnow6472]

02:55 "Art is all about kids finding out who they are, and they're all different."

[@angelicaeconar123]

Anyone here for online classes art appreciation sub hahaha

[@blooop7334]

Same :)

[@mrlite2552]

Anyone here for online school in art?

[@user-po9rf9bm5e]

ロスコー

[@user-po9rf9bm5e]

デユビフエ

[@tostupidforname]

This feels weird to watch as a cs student. I mean study what you want but idk if its worth it if you have to go into debt for it.

[@nickxx2143]

So I get 60 in art bc I'm not good at art yeah it's pointless

[@lornasmith9732]

Anyone from class watching 😳

[@user-po9rf9bm5e]

ロスコー画家

[@emabewsey8159]

like if for mama ceta le ma gusta sisi hola hola

[@nebbula8885]

also pay for art school. i dare you

[@markphiliportega8896]

Hi sa mga taga CIT-U :)

[@kidomar6165]

gae kog answers

[@djnima]

don't over-glorify anything whether art or science.

[@thlee3]

🔪💔

[@jacekpokrak9258]

why study art? If you want to know more about art it is OK . But if you want make art ..........i am not sure Regards JJ Pokrak Compmaturism

[@leafm1181]

artist these days are like entertainers

[@Silhouetters]

artists have always been entertainers.

[@jeremyblasabas7616]

CIT-U people, we have gathered here for a purpose

[@Rubezinoo]

you know what ? xue hua piao piao

[@MrPole79]

Dont learn Art in any establishment….is not worth it. What is the chance to earn money….I am telling you that is 0.0000001% to become a well known artist. Invest that money into yourself and learn something which generate you money for living and do Art as a hobbi

[@titanproducer]

As opposed to artists like Dali, Picasso and Magritte from previous generations, nowadays the art industry is filled with pretentious, snobby people with no talent at all. An unmade bed isn’t art.

[@owenfordeart]

I get where your coming from but there is a lot of great underground artists around, its mainly mainstream art galleries that accept " an unmade bed " and calls it a masterpiece, I think they focus more on the description behind the work and not on the time and effort it takes someone to create it, (so in a nutshell I partly agree)

[@titanproducer]

owenfordeart fair enough man it’s your opinion

[@Namesarealwaysathing]

Why is an unmade bad not art? Also, the artist you are mentioning were famously pretentious snobby people.

[@estefaniazapatagonzalez1216]

what even is talent

[@thandimwanza4217]

The way that I see it is art isn’t always what it looks like too you and people perceive it in different ways so maybe you don’t particularly like it but somebody else does and maybe it’s the idea behind it that is artistic and well thought.

[@petermonicid6053]

Almost all of the great artists of our times were self taught . That's not by accident .

[@ricv64]

That is so incorrect . That sounds like something Trump would say. I question how long you've actually been involved with art past your school years if even that.

[@petermonicid6053]

I mean the very top of them , which are of course Van Gogh and Francis Bacon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What else could I say ?

[@katcastillo2011]

Panagiotis Valais Van Gogh wasn’t “self taught” he did not went to art school but he was taught by Mauve. Also, they experienced to be with a company of others artists, and through all of their experiences they FOUND their styles and that’s what art schools is for. Teaching you what art is and it is up to you how you will express and create one.

[@petermonicid6053]

The distinguishing feature is that great artists , after the 19th century , couldn't tolerate to be "shaped" in traditional artistic lessons .

[@vickya.5884]

It's true that art is important. But at the same time there are many starving artists. Is it worth all the sacrifices they make for a world of indifference?

[@nerdinb.3571]

It isn't exactly important. Society can move on without it, everyone talking in this video is someone who's life depends on it and they're talking how they feel, but no one needs art

[@nerdinb.3571]

@@vickya.5884 i don't like any of those things actually, it does give jobs but society can move on without them

[@nerdinb.3571]

@@vickya.5884 There can be creation and imagination without art, think of engineering or building, that requires creation and imagination. If you think of society as a web, art is connected to nothing, I'm being hostile because people are forced to learn it. It might be a part but not all parts are needed, just like the body, you don't need your butt but you have it. You don't need your appendix but you have it. Not all parts are necessary, no one else is gonna be affected if art dissapeared entirely like I won't die if you died but with jobs.

[@nerdinb.3571]

@@vickya.5884 art actually hindered my imagination when I was a kid, because they dont teach, they test and how am I supposed to learn if no one taught me, there can be creativity in other things like literature, art is not the only branch of creativity, but it is the worst one

[@DKYtut]

Art is a good way to express as a human, but imo people can also do that as a hobby. Art doesn't solve a 'real' problem in society, that's why ofcourse there aren't many job offers for the normal artist. It is expected that when someone studies / graduates in art (or music for example..) they do it out of passion. It is a choice that people make, they are free to do something else in life if they are not satisfied with what they do .

[@TheRealArtDoctor]

A painting some guy made about a naked lady isn't all that fascinating

[@philthycat1408]

f,Art. 🤭 teehee.

[@damienheads7151]

Do NOT study art at degree level unless you are willing to suffer economically and spiritually in the pursuit of becoming an artist. Universities are FULL of people studying to be in the creative fields, and you are very unlikely to get a meaningful or even life sustaining job in the creative field. It is MUCH safer to study a subject which is in high demand at the moment such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Medicine, IT, Plumber or Electrician and pursue becoming an artist or creative person on the side. You do NOT want to be spending your weeks working in a shitty little cafe or supermarket, struggling to support yourself and with NO hope of affording a house or accumulating any real savings. This is NOT a meaningful existence. Anyone can’t make it, and it’s becoming less and less these days about how good you are, and much more about being able to market yourself. Take it from someone who was sold this mistruth about pursuing your dreams and everything will be alright. Note: I’m not bitter, and this is no disrespect to the Tate, but I just want to save another person from making this mistake if they are not FULLY aware and prepared to suffer all of the consequences

[@ricv64]

Ive been making art 40 plus years . I knew dam well that a degree was just a degree. It's also like that in the fields you mentioned , flooded . For me, making art, it's like breathing . It's just what I do. I learned to pace myself . My advice for those wanting to be artist is be prepared that even your best friends will hate what you do . Be prepared to work in a vacuum. Think about storage . Be prepared about people trying to knock out the competition

[@awh6148]

Coming from experience this is bad advice. I tried to study Engineering and do art on the side and struggle tremendously while people in my class easily flourish. I found out that people in the STEM field industry have the TALENT to pursue those degrees. They’ve been doing it their whole lives and you will not be able to compete with them in the classroom or in the open market. You’ll will only have the education and skill, while they’ll have the education, skill, talent, and the EXPERIENCE. Your work is your livelihood and if you pursue those careers you will lose your artistic talent and creativity as an artist. I agree that know one should major in FINE ART (painting, sculpture, music, photography, etc) because those professions don’t even require a degree to do it. Creatives should pursue careers in the DESIGN / APPLIED ART / COMMERCIAL ART industries (fashion, interior design, architecture, industrial design, commercial filmmaking, animation, graphic design, advertising, etc) then use their electives or free time to pursue FINE ART. This will help you fund your art, keep your artistic talent and still have the creativity of an artist. Tattoo art is a good career for the people who dislike college, need a 9-5 job, pursue fine art on the side, and want to remain in a create space. Design takes fine art and applies it in a practical and commercial setting. They’re so many high paying jobs in design and i think it’s a good career choice that can feed your creative juices while also pursue fine art on the side.

[@hendezat7767]

I studied science at University and left my art ambition to rot, but couldn't! even though I'm good at science and still love it, but I didn't feel I was fulfilled. Now I'm back doing art as a mature student. Art education is important to ground you and make your work informed and critically sharp (I'm sure you're aware there's lots of bad art out there). I'm enjoying my studies even though I'll graduate with £50000 debt. which I can pay back gradually when I'm earning enough, but if I don't earn enough Student Finance England won't demand or chase me for it like a private lender would do, in fact it will be cancelled after 30 years. So I suggest if one is serious about their art, then art education is a good investment.

[@cykixen9990]

Chill out guys with the long sentences

[@kosaiie9630]

So? It might not be a meaningful life for you, but don't assume that your perspective is the same for others. That is where you are incorrect. Art doesn't have to be rooted into fine arts, there are tons of high paying jobs that require art, as the previous commenter has said: animation, web design, game development... etc. The possibilities are endless, you don't have to throw away your passion just to earn a living.

[@wilfredchong805]

Boring, no subtitles boring to watch, bad video

[@Tate]

Hi Wilfred, You can make subtitles appear by clicking on the 'CC' button on the left-hand corner of the video. Very best, Tate

[@wilfredchong805]

@@Tate U should make subtitle

[@cykixen9990]

Tate our teacher made us watch this video so thanks 🙄

[@kosaiie9630]

are you being purposefully dumb?

[@user-ze3nw5rw7y]

Art is boring