Joint warning against proposed cuts in the county’s art education

13 arts and cultural institutions in Østfold are raising the alarm about proposed cuts and closures of the county’s art education programs, including the Norwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College.

Here you can read a (partly automatically) translated version of a letter sent to: the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Culture and Equality, Østfold County Council by County Mayor Sindre Martinsen-Evje, the University College Board at HiØ by Berit Kjeldstad.

Copies are sent to: the State Governor of Østfold, the Family and Culture Committee, the Education and Research Committee, the Local Government and Administration Committee, the Østfold Bench in the Norwegian Parliament, the Executive Committee for Public Health, Culture and Diversity, the Executive Committee for Education and Business in Østfold County Council, secondary schools in Østfold and the Norwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College.

Bildet over er fra “Hollywood dolls (Hull i hodet)” av og med Avgangsstudenter ved Akademi for scenekunst i 2016. Foto: Bård Halvorsen©HiØ

Notification regarding proposed cuts in art education programs

A collective group of arts and cultural institutions/organizations in Østfold would like to express our strong concern about the plans to close down central parts of the county’s art education programmes, both at upper secondary and university college level. This will have serious consequences for both cultural life and society as a whole.

The current situation:

Østfold County Council – one of the poorest counties with many of the poorest municipalities in the Norway – will have to make severe cuts in their 2025 budgets. The county is required to reduce its budget for upper secondary education by at least NOK 167 million.

One of the measures proposed is the removal of music, art and media studies from some of the upper secondary schools (art, design and architecture at Glemmen and Kirkeparken, as well as music, dance and drama at Greåker, Kirkeparken, Halden and Askim are among the courses threatened by shut down).

Furthermore, theNorwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College may be shut down as a result of demands for savings of NOK 46 million. In addition to increased wage and price inflation, the Ministry of Education and Research’s new funding model for university colleges will have a very negative impact on arts education (Headmaster of the Norwegian Academy of Music estimates that they will be left with half of their current funding, see Khrono 9.10.2024). In November, the University College Board will decide whether this unique institution – one of only three publicly funded stage arts degrees available in Norway – will disappear.

Creative expertise and unique education programs

Art education requires resources beyond the ones of purely theoretical studies, but it also offers invaluable skills in creativity and innovative thinking. It is said that the education offered by secondary schools in Østfold should “adapt to the needs of business and industry for the future”. The state budget for 2025 clearly states that the government expects universities and university colleges to prioritize resources for “health sciences, IT and areas that are important for ‘Det Grønne skiftet’ . We would like to point out that the creative sector in particular are considered a key participants in the joint efforts to make a transition from a petroleum-based to a more sustainable economy,^[2] . In addition recent research has increased the knowledge of how fundamentally important creative competence is for the development of democracy and society’s overall preparedness.

The creative programs have lower absenteeism and higher completion rates than other programs. By removing creative education opportunities, many students will lose their motivation to continue their schooling. The closure of the Academy of Performing Arts – one of the country’s three state-run performing arts programs – will have major consequences for professional cultural life both nationally and regionally, and for Norway’s international position in the performing arts.

Financially short-sighted

The process of leaving decisions on cuts to the county councils and schools appears to be an abdication of responsibility on the part of the government. Kulturloven (The Culture Act) imposes a legal responsibility on the state, counties and municipalities to ensure access to a broad and diverse cultural offering, which starkly contrasts with the proposed cuts.

The closure of art education programs will have short-term financial gain, but long-term negative consequences. Østfold has built solid art and cultural environments over several decades, which has contributed to the county’s development. Removing existing educational programs at the stroke of a pen would, in practice, be an irreversible action, which would weaken both the local communities and the future reginal labor market.

We strongly urge that the Norwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College and the creative, preparatory courses at upper secondary levels be preserved. The closure of these programs would be a disaster for arts and culture in Østfold and a weakening of the region’s ability to foster creativity and innovation, which are crucial for the challenges of the future, including the green shift.

This is an extraordinary situation that requires extraordinary measures.

More:

>> Save N.T.A.! Petition for the preservation of the Norwegian Theatre Academy

>> The Norwegian Theatre and Orchestra Association: Preserve The Norwegian Theatre Academy!

>>The Norwegian Theatre Academy must be saved! Petition in The Norwegian Shakespeare Journal

>> NRK Østfold: Vocational and creative courses may disappear