The Wire

Students of the Victorian College of Arts are acting out against a merger with Melbourne University and proposed funding cuts to the VCA. More than six thousand people have signed a petition against the plans and the protest came to a dramatic climax last week when nearly a thousand people marched to Melbourne’s State Parliament. The protest was a colourful and loud celebration of culture… but the demonstrators’ cries weren’t heard by the State government. The idea behind the funding cut lies in diversifying education. But should arts students be given the same opportunity to specialise in their chosen profession?