Achievement and Quality: Higher Education in the Arts

General Observations on Quality, Achievement, and the Natures of the Art Forms

Achievement and Quality Over Time

The arts disciplines and achievements in them are recognized worldwide as major components of civilization. The arts are not just one among other major fields of endeavor, but rather a deeply respected area of human action and achievement in their own right.

1. In the arts, the new does not replace the old, but rather comes alongside it. The old does not just become history, it stays alive in new performances and new interpretations. The art itself continues to speak to individuals down through time. Achievement and quality, therefore, are not centered on replacing previous works of art.
2. In the arts, time sifts achievement and produces the ultimate evaluation. It can take a long time for the quality of a body of work to be fully understood, even among experts. It is important to remember that there are distinctions between fame and achievement, and that these distinctions are often hard to make at any specific time.
3. The high levels of achievement and quality manifested in the arts depend on values and infrastructures dedicated to the artistic mode of thought and a willingness to invest in them over time. They include, but are not limited to, education, resources, and high aspiration.

More Information:
      Art as a Mode of Thought
      Evaluating Elements and Conditions for Quality and Achievement in Institutions

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