Shakespeare studies in New Zealand halted … useless and ‘imperial’ – europeantimes.news

The country’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, added that the decision to fund the program was not up to her or the government.

Is Shakespeare still relevant to today’s students? The Arts Council of New Zealand appears to have doubts after it stopped funding a popular school program to study the eminent playwright, the Associated Press reported.

The arguments of the Council (Creative New Zealand) are that the program is too dependent on already occupied schools, has no practical application in the context of contemporary art and relies on a topical genre in the canon of imperialism.

But many opposed the decision, including the country’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who taught Shakespeare at school and said the program was “fantastic”. She said students interested in theater and debate have limited opportunities to interact with peers from other schools.

“I was one of those children. That is why I want to continue to see other children have these opportunities,” said the Prime Minister.

Jacinda Ardern added that the decision to finance did not lie with her or the government. The Arts Council is taxpayer-funded but governs independently.

The Globe Shakespeare Center in New Zealand has been organizing school programmes, workshops and festivals for nearly 30 years. Students can act, direct, make costumes, or create a soundtrack.

The plays are often set in the modern era or have a different interpretation of the originals written by William Shakespeare more than 400 years ago.

The center receives around NZ$30,000 ($17,000) each year from the Arts Council, which is about 10 percent of its total budget.

Dawn Sanders, the center’s chief executive, said last month’s initial rejection, which continued after the last crisis meeting, left her “shocked.”

“I was shocked and disgusted,” she said, adding that over the years more than 120,000 students have attended festivals and programmes, many of whom have become theater or film professionals.

Others used the acting skills they acquired in their work, for example lawyers who were better at discussing their cases or doctors who developed a more engaging method of communication.

The Arts Council did not respond to requests for comment.

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