Well. Not sure where to start...
ASU announced today that it will be combining the College of the Arts, and the College of Design. Mostly motivated by budget cuts, the school is being forced to choose things/jobs/programs/people to eliminate. ASU has already taken more than $37 million in state funding cuts. On top of these cuts, a new proposal would require ASU to cut another $70 million, or 35% of our remaining state funding, in less than five months. Another cut of $155 million is proposed for FY10. The University has already cut hundreds of jobs.
I heard recently that the University of Arizona is cutting its entire art department and no longer offering art degrees.
I am scared for the future. I hope this merger with the arts and design will be good and beneficial to both parties, but it feels a little scary. I know it won't affect me really as a student, because I won't be here much longer, but what I do think about its my future in the field. How long will the economy stay in a recession? And by the time we get out of this recession, how many schools will have eliminated their art programs?
I also teach metals classes for the Phoenix Art Center which was recently in danger of being shut down due to state budget cuts. The resolution was that it will stay open, but cut costs by 68%. I'm pretty sure that means I won't be teaching there anymore.
These are hard times, even so, we still have to continue to support the arts so they aren't lost! I'm worried that if we don't fight hard now to keep these programs going, it won't be long before they disappear.
