Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker on Wednesday announced cuts at the Otago Polytechnic, including job losses at the school of art, the result of a more than $3 million funding cut from the Government.
Some in the art world expressed dismay at the cuts and said it was a pity there was not more support for New Zealand's oldest art school.
Mr Ker said art education was expensive to provide, and the polytechnic could no longer afford to subsidise the programme using the surplus money from other programmes.
School of art acting leader Prof Leoni Schmidt said there was no doubt running the art school was expensive, but the school had an international reputation and would continue to prosper, despite the cuts.
Yesterday, an email was sent to students and staff to allay any fears about the future of the school.
Ms Schmidt said the school of art had been around for 140 years and would "continue to flourish".
In the email, she said students would be able to continue in the programmes in which they were enrolled, the same specialist disciplines would be available, and highly qualified staff would continue to teach students.
"The students will not be disadvantaged in any way.
"We are, however, sad about the fact that we are going to be losing staff and colleagues."
Staff had been informed of the cuts about a month ago, and they would know by October 23 which jobs would go.
Unions were involved in negotiations.
She said it would not be known until that time how many staff would be affected.
There are 25 equivalent full-time (EFT) staff positions at the school, but many more staff.
There are 200 EFT students, but again because many are part time, the actual total number of students is higher.
Students at the school agreed the school had much to offer.
Dyani Wynn, who is in her final year of a bachelor of fine arts degree, majoring in painting, said the reason she came to Dunedin, as opposed to going to Christchurch or Auckland, was because the Dunedin course was "all about the making".
Rather than spending a large amount of time on the concepts behind art, the Dunedin course was focused on actually doing it.
Kate Butler, who is in the final year of a bachelor of visual arts degree, majoring in jewellery, said the course attracted tutors from throughout the world and had a very good name.
The school offers, ceramics, electronic arts, drawing, jewellery and metalsmithing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and the theory and history of art.
From 2010, these disciplines will be divided into four core hubs.
Ms Schmidt said the school was in the process of getting approval for new postgraduate courses.
It was hoped they would be approved next month.
The changes at the school meant they would have to do things smarter and better, she said.
