No.

I've got a lot of opinions on the state of arts education in America, and my basic position is that they need to be dropped from colleges entirely and reformed. Art... is not "taught". It's not a trade per-se, it's an application of a talent. The modern commoditized education that college seeks to impart is a great fit for applied sciences, but lousy for arts.

The correct outlet for the advanced study of arts is not the "university". It's the "conservatory", and it operates on a very different philosophy. Simply, they do not accept middling candidates. Openings are scarce and admission competitive.

If it was my call, here's what would happen:

The Department of Education would cut off all support for the current slate of state funded public art colleges. They would then open a new program for funding a National Arts Conservatory, which would admit a subset of the former arts colleges into the program.

The National Arts Conservatory would have tiers of participating school branches.

• Fourth Tier - Center for Performance Arts

Virtually any college can host a branch, but the program can only award bachelors degrees in music and theater. This allows schools to keep their bands and drama programs intact.

• Third Tier - State Arts Conservatory

Limited to ONE campus per state. Can award teaching degrees for primary/secondary art education. Can award masters degrees for performance arts. Can award bachelors degrees for non-performance arts.

• Second Tier - National Arts Conservatory Branch Campus

Two branches, one each controlled by the CSU and SUNY systems respectively. Can award doctorates in performance arts, and masters in non-performance arts.

• First Tier - National Arts Conservatory of the United States of America

Hosted by the Smithsonian Institute. The conferring of the title "doctor of arts" in non-performance arts is by simple "tres bien" vote by the directors of the Smithsonian's art museums, conferring annually to review submissions (each submission must be sponsored by someone already holding "doctor of arts"). If you can convince any three of them that you have artistic talent, congratulations, you're a doctor of non-performance arts.

No.

I've got a lot of opinions on the state of arts education in America, and my basic position is that they need to be dropped from colleges entirely and reformed. Art... is not "taught". It's not a trade per-se, it's an application of a talent. The modern commoditized education that college seeks to impart is a great fit for applied sciences, but lousy for arts.

The correct outlet for the advanced study of arts is not the "university". It's the "conservatory", and it operates on a very different philosophy. Simply, they do not accept middling candidates. Openings are scarce and admission competitive.

If it was my call, here's what would happen:

The Department of Education would cut off all support for the current slate of state funded public art colleges. They would then open a new program for funding a National Arts Conservatory, which would admit a subset of the former arts colleges into the program.

The National Arts Conservatory would have tiers of participating school branches.

• Fourth Tier - Center for Performance Arts

Virtually any college can host a branch, but the program can only award bachelors degrees in music and theater. This allows schools to keep their bands and drama programs intact.

• Third Tier - State Arts Conservatory

Limited to ONE campus per state. Can award teaching degrees for primary/secondary art education. Can award masters degrees for performance arts. Can award bachelors degrees for non-performance arts.

• Second Tier - National Arts Conservatory Branch Campus

Two branches, one each controlled by the CSU and SUNY systems respectively. Can award doctorates in performance arts, and masters in non-performance arts.

• First Tier - National Arts Conservatory of the United States of America

Hosted by the Smithsonian Institute. The conferring of the title "doctor of arts" in non-performance arts is by simple "tres bien" vote by the directors of the Smithsonian's art museums, conferring annually to review submissions (each submission must be sponsored by someone already holding "doctor of arts"). If you can convince any three of them that you have artistic talent, congratulations, you're a doctor of non-performance arts.

No.

I've got a lot of opinions on the state of arts education in America, and my basic position is that they need to be dropped from colleges entirely and reformed. Art... is not "taught". It's not a trade per-se, it's an application of a talent. The modern commoditized education that college seeks to impart is a great fit for applied sciences, but lousy for arts.

The correct outlet for the advanced study of arts is not the "university". It's the "conservatory", and it operates on a very different philosophy. Simply, they do not accept middling candidates. Openings are scarce and admission competitive.

If it was my call, here's what would happen:

The Department of Education would cut off all support for the current slate of state funded public art colleges. They would then open a new program for funding a National Arts Conservatory, which would admit a subset of the former arts colleges into the program.

The National Arts Conservatory would have tiers of participating school branches.

• Fourth Tier - Center for Performance Arts Virtually any college can host a branch, but the program can only award bachelors degrees in music and theater. This allows schools to keep their bands and drama programs intact.

• Third Tier - State Arts Conservatory Limited to ONE campus per state. Can award teaching degrees for primary/secondary art education. Can award masters degrees for performance arts. Can award bachelors degrees for non-performance arts.

• Second Tier - National Arts Conservatory Branch Campus Two branches, one each controlled by the CSU and SUNY systems respectively. Can award doctorates in performance arts, and masters in non-performance arts.

• First Tier - National Arts Conservatory of the United States of America Hosted by the Smithsonian Institute. The conferring of the title "doctor of arts" in non-performance arts is by simple "tres bien" vote by the directors of the Smithsonian's art museums, conferring annually to review submissions (each submission must be sponsored by someone already holding "doctor of arts"). If you can convince any three of them that you have artistic talent, congratulations, you're a doctor of non-performance arts.

No.

I've got a lot of opinions on the state of arts education in America, and my basic position is that they need to be dropped from colleges entirely and reformed. Art... is not "taught". It's not a trade per-se, it's an application of a talent. The modern commoditized education that college seeks to impart is a great fit for applied sciences, but lousy for arts.

The correct outlet for the advanced study of arts is not the "university". It's the "conservatory", and it operates on a very different philosophy. Simply, they do not accept middling candidates. Openings are scarce and admission competitive.

If it was my call, here's what would happen:

The Department of Education would cut off all support for the current slate of state funded public art colleges. They would then open a new program for funding a National Arts Conservatory, which would admit a subset of the former arts colleges into the program.

The National Arts Conservatory would have tiers of participating school branches.

• Fourth Tier - Center for Performance Arts Virtually any college can host a branch, but the program can only award bachelors degrees in music and theater. This allows schools to keep their bands and drama programs intact.

• Third Tier - State Arts Conservatory Limited to ONE campus per state. Can award teaching degrees for primary/secondary art education. Can award masters degrees for performance arts. Can award bachelors degrees for non-performance arts.

• Second Tier - National Arts Conservatory Branch Campus Two branches, one each controlled by the CSU and SUNY systems respectively. Can award doctorates in performance arts, and masters in non-performance arts.

• First Tier - National Arts Conservatory of the United States of America Hosted by the Smithsonian Institute. The conferring of the title "doctor of arts" in non-performance arts is by simple "tres bien" vote by the directors of the Smithsonian's art museums, conferring annually to review submissions. If you can convince any three of them that you have artistic talent, congratulations, you're a doctor of non-performance arts.