<p>timkerdes, I don’t think of Damien Hirst as an artist. Putting a dead shark into a tank of formaldehyde is not fine art, although it may be a good work of engineering and a brilliant way of making a lot of money. I believe that this house of cards will fall however, and some investors are going to lose a lot of money.</p>
<p>Now I’m sure that some “artists” will do well in the future by putting giraffes on roofs and elephants on cars, etc., and calling it art. But they don’t need to spend four years of their parents’ money going to a university studying art to do that.</p>
<p>I’m about to send my 3rd child off for professional studies, this one in music, and university is expensive. I know a number of parents who are sending off their children to art schools. At least with music, I know that my daughter will be learning a skill in addition to getting a university education. I’m looking at this issue from the point of view of “what are most art students doing with their degree?”, rather than how much money a couple of people at the top are making with their art, or creations.</p>