Art history is more than just a study of paintings and sculptures; it’s a gateway to understanding cultures, societies, and the human experience through visual expression. As the world becomes increasingly image-driven, the role of art history has never been more relevant, and its future looks promising. At the National Extension College (NEC), we are at the forefront of making this fascinating subject accessible to learners of all ages, backgrounds, and career aspirations.

In this blog, we explore the future of art history as a discipline and highlight how studying it with NEC can help you develop critical skills, expand your understanding of culture, and even open doors to diverse career opportunities.

The Evolution of Art History: What Lies Ahead?

During an event on the Future of Art History attended by NEC art history tutor Dianne, several key priorities were identified to ensure the subject remains vibrant and relevant. These priorities include making art history more accessible, promoting its benefits to society, emphasising its vocational aspects, and encouraging visual literacy across all educational levels.

Here’s what the future holds for art history:

1. Making Art History Accessible: One of the biggest challenges is demystifying the subject. For many, art history seems like an elite or niche discipline. However, the future lies in making art history relatable and accessible to the wider public, particularly through online platforms and courses, such as those offered by NEC.
2. Promoting Its Benefits: Art history is not just about memorising dates and styles. It teaches valuable skills such as critical thinking, visual analysis, and cultural awareness, all of which are highly transferable to careers in media, education, design, and even technology.
3. Highlighting Vocational Pathways: More institutions are recognising the potential of art history in vocational contexts. Graduates can work in museums, galleries, auction houses, and even digital spaces like game design or virtual reality, where an understanding of visual culture is essential.
4. Boosting Recruitment at Earlier Educational Levels: One of the key ways to secure the future of art history is by introducing it to younger students, particularly at secondary school and A level. Raising awareness of the subject at key decision-making points can spark interest and build pathways to higher education in the field.

Why Study Art History?

Studying art history offers numerous benefits beyond simply learning about the world’s greatest artworks. It enhances your ability to think critically, understand the context of historical events, and interpret visual information, skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s visual and digital world. Here’s why art history is a great choice:

• Cultural Understanding: Art history allows you to explore different cultures, societies, and ideologies, offering insight into how art reflects and influences societal changes.
• Visual Literacy: With the rise of social media, marketing, and design, being able to “read” and interpret images is a vital skill. Art history develops your ability to analyse visual content, making you more adept at navigating today’s visual landscape.
• Transferable Skills: Art history teaches critical thinking, research, communication, and analytical skills. These are valuable in a variety of fields, from education and journalism to marketing and tech.
• Career Opportunities: Whether you want to work in museums, education, conservation, or even in tech sectors like VR and AI, art history provides a solid foundation for careers that require strong analytical and cultural awareness.

Read more in our blog post Why Should You Study Art History.

NEC’s Role in the Future of Art History

At NEC, we are proud to play an important role in shaping the future of art history education. Our A level History of Art Course is designed to make this fascinating subject accessible to a wide range of learners. Whether you’re a school leaver, adult learner, or professional looking to broaden your horizons, NEC offers flexible online learning that fits around your life.

Here’s how studying art history with NEC can benefit you:

• Flexible Learning: Study at your own pace, fitting your studies around your personal commitments.
• Expert Support: You’ll have access to tutors who are experts in the field, guiding you through the material and helping you explore the subject in depth.
• Career Preparation: Our A level History of Art course not only prepares you for further study at university but also provides the analytical, research, and communication skills needed for a variety of careers.
• Open to All Ages: At NEC, we believe art history should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age. Whether you’re a younger student considering university or an adult learner looking to pursue a passion, our courses are open to you.

Jill studied A level History of Art with NEC. You can read her story here.

What Does NEC’s A level History of Art Course Cover?

Our A level History of Art course covers a wide range of topics, offering students an in-depth understanding of the key movements, styles, and artists that have shaped visual culture. 

Find out more about the course and watch this short video about our A level History of Art course. Learn more about the course by seeing how to work through a topic.

The Importance of Visual Literacy in the Digital Age

As technology advances and the world becomes increasingly image-centric, the ability to critically engage with visual content is crucial. Visual literacy, the ability to interpret and make meaning from visual information, is at the core of art history. In an age where images influence everything from politics to social media trends, studying art history equips you with the tools to navigate and understand the complexities of the modern visual world.

At NEC, our courses emphasise the importance of visual literacy. Students are encouraged to explore how artworks, past and present, communicate ideas and shape our perceptions of the world.

In this video Professor Abigail Harrison Moore from the University of Leeds, Professor Griselda Pollock and students from schools in the Leeds area introduce NEC’s A level History of Art course and speak about the importance of art history. 

Join the Future of Art History with NEC

The future of art history is bright, and there has never been a better time to study this exciting and dynamic subject. By enrolling in NEC’s A level History of Art course, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of visual culture, develop transferable skills, and open doors to a range of career opportunities.

Whether you’re looking to pursue art history academically, professionally, or as a personal passion, NEC provides the flexible learning platform and expert guidance you need to succeed. Discover the future of art history today and enrol with NEC.

To learn more about our A level History of Art course and other offerings, visit the NEC website.

Conclusion

Studying art history will teach you to analyse imagery critically. You’ll develop skills in visual literacy, critical thinking and art analysis that will enable you to better understand the world around you and are valuable skills for a variety of careers.

Still not sure if studying art history is for you? Watch this engaging webinar with Christine Bradsheet from the Association of Art History. It introduces the subject of art history, including what it is and its social and cultural value. The webinar looks at the transferable skills you will gain from studying art history and the diversity of careers it can lead to.