‘Save UTAS Arts’ Campaign Opposes Cuts

A student-led, grassroots campaign, ‘Save UTAS Arts’, has emerged in opposition to the University of Tasmania’s (UTAS) proposed cuts to its College of Arts, Law and Education.

The group claims that these changes, outlined in a recent Change Proposal, threaten significant reductions in courses and staff. Philosophy, Theatre and the School of Creative Arts and Media face particularly severe impacts.

“Students hate the concept,” said a spokesperson.

“This will only cause a further degradation in enrolments and reputation as prospective artists and humanities students will look for these courses interstate – why would they want to study at home when their course could face budget and staff cuts?”

The campaign, comprising current students, alumni, community members and former UTAS staff, argues that these cuts fundamentally undermine the arts and humanities at the very moment Tasmania is gaining national recognition for its vibrant artistic scene, recently exemplified by events like Dark Mofo.

Save UTAS Arts highlights several key concerns and demands:

Erosion of Quality and Reputation: The proposed cuts, campaigners argue, will significantly weaken the quality and attractiveness of UTAS’s arts programs compared to other universities, leading to a decline in reputation and enrolments.

Regulatory Scrutiny Demanded: The campaign calls upon regulatory bodies to intervene

TEQSA (Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency): To investigate whether the cuts compromise UTAS’s quality standards, particularly given what they perceive as an “obvious favouritism” towards sciences.

NTEU (National Tertiary Education Union): To advocate for the importance of the arts and humanities and make their voices heard.

Department of Education (DoE): To review UTAS’s actions, which are seen as a “targeted, stealthy carving of particular departments in search of raw income increases” rather than a defence of education.

Impact on Tasmanian Talent: The cuts are predicted to drive Tasmanian artists and intellectuals interstate, further depleting the state’s cultural capital.

No Forced Job Cuts or Course Downgrades: The campaign demands that UTAS find alternatives to forced redundancies for experienced academics and rejects the disestablishment or gutting of key majors like Theatre and Philosophy, opposing the merging of distinct disciplines into “vague generalist units.”

Transparent Consultation: Save UTAS Arts criticises the lack of transparent consultation with students, who reportedly learned about the proposal through rumors and were only granted access to the full details midway through the consultation period.

Refutation of Enrolment Decline Claim: Campaigners refute the university’s implied justification of declining enrolments for the cuts. They argue that cutting courses and damaging reputation will further decrease enrolments. They also highlight the disproportionate impact of cutting a small number of academic positions when compared to the Vice-Chancellor’s high salary, and note the university has not provided evidence to support its claims of these courses running at a dramatic loss.

Save UTAS Arts asserts that these cuts reflect short-term financial thinking that threatens Tasmania’s cultural, intellectual, and artistic future.

“The Arts and Humanities teach critical thinking, creativity, communication, and ethical reflection — the very skills that make a society resilient,” said the spokesperson.

“UTAS cannot claim to value innovation and community while slashing the disciplines that support both.”

“We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for dignity — in education, in employment and in the future of Tasmania’s creative life. “

The campaign claims it has significant support, demonstrated by nearly eight hundred Instagram followers and over one hundred survey responses within days.