The doctor is in: Why are artists doing PhDs?

Is a doctoral degree really useful for a career in the arts or are artists using higher degrees to buy studio time and avoid the reality check of life after uni?
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Source: Diane Hamilton wordpress.  

The number of people undertaking a research degree in Australia has increased by 41% over the past ten years and not just in science and business. An increasing number of artists are doing PhDs, sometimes producing visual arts portfolios like Danielle Hobbs’ Art for the ‘Bad Mother’ or music compositions or fiction instead of a traditional research thesis.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Instagram: fairleygina