Why Study Art?

It’s a fair question, and one worth answering seriously.

There’s a persistent myth in our culture that choosing art means choosing passion over practicality. However, the people who’ve built extraordinary careers across every creative field would disagree.

Studying art develops skills that matter everywhere: the ability to look closely, think critically, solve problems without a blueprint, communicate across difference, and make meaning in a world that’s constantly changing. These aren’t soft skills. They’re the skills that define leaders, innovators, and people who shape culture.

The Tate asked some of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers, architects, and thinkers of our time — including David Hockney, Cate Blanchett, and Cornelia Parker — why art should be part of every student’s education. Hear it in their own words: