No-one ever told me that there was a subject called ‘art history’ when I was at my school in Yorkshire, I had to wait until I discovered it at University. I changed my degree choice from English to the subject that I have had the joy of teaching and researching for the last 25 years – I am now a Professor of Art History. The launch of the new A level History of Art, making it available for the first time for students in the North of England, hopefully means others will not have to wait as long as me to find out about the importance and validity of this subject or discover it by mistake…

At a time when the creative industries are the fastest growing sector in the UK, bringing in billions of pounds to our economy, and the envy of the world, we need to make subjects available to students in the North that open up the possibility of working in this sector, and art history does this. Consider, for example, how many museum and gallery collections we have in the UK and the fact that Tate Modern and the British Museum are the most visited collections in the world. Who works there and how did they become curators, educators, collections managers etc.? The majority studied art history. Across the globe, countries like China, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are investing in huge museum and gallery projects, and we are training the next generation of staff at UK universities. The art market is centred on the UK, and contemporary art sales are increasing every year so we need auctioneers and experts. My graduates are journalists, lawyers, architects, work in PR and education, have won Baftas, been nominated for Oscar’s and the Turner Prize. Many barristers have arts degrees, because art history teaches you to look carefully, be curious, critically analyse and present your findings in a confident and compelling way. Students applying to medical school are often encouraged to add art history into their A level mix as it teaches them to look critically, and also introduces them to how the body has been understood in the past in a way that helps them consider the possibilities for the future. In a world that increasingly communicates visually – think Snapchat, Instagram and the challenge of fake news and doctored photos – we need art historians to interpret the world, to understand the past and look to the future. And jobs in this area are well protected from the potential for automation.

A bright future needs graduates from a diverse mix of backgrounds, who have a clear understanding of their place in the world and the contribution they can make.

When I introduce my subject, I often use the example of James Dyson, taught by the first Professor of Art at Leeds, who, when faced with a machine to clean carpets, approached it creatively, and created a billion pound business. Or Jony Ives, the British designer who, on meeting Steve Jobs, changed a failing tech business into the global success story that is Apple.

An A level in art history can open up many possibilities and enable students to think differently about the past. Using history, philosophy, sociology, literature, religious studies, economics etc. can help them understand why artists made art that reflected their world but also hoped to change the world. I recommend everyone thinks about the possibilities that might come from studying this incredible subject.