Full Story A nation of rich cowards? Ben Quilty on why we need our artists
Jan 25, 2026
Ben Quilty, a celebrated Australian painter known for bold figurative work and cultural commentary, questions whether Australia values its artists. He discusses why being an artist can feel risky, how schools and funding squeeze creativity, the Adelaide Writers’ Week controversy, free speech versus harm, and the need for a culturally brave, truth-telling nation.
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Early Push Toward Economics
- Ben Quilty recalls being discouraged from studying art by a careers advisor who pushed him toward economics.
- He says that pressure to become a 'cog in the capitalist machine' began in high school and shaped cultural attitudes toward art.
Colonial Roots Shape Cultural Priorities
- Quilty links Australia's low cultural valuation of art to its colonial origins and dispossession of First Nations peoples.
- He argues that national identity-building favoured sport and economic growth over reflective cultural work.
Funding Cuts Shrink Arts Education
- Quilty notes humanities and arts degrees have doubled in cost while art schools close under financial pressure.
- He warns this shift devalues arts education and reduces space-intensive disciplines like visual and performing arts.