This article is drawn from a lecture recently presented at Griffith University which examines the Australian higher education sector and its rapid transition from a traditional view of education to one which is increasingly affected by government funding and subsequent intervention. The amalgamation of the creative arts from small conservatorium-style academies to the broader university system has not been met with a concomitant desire to fully appreciate and value their unique contribution to the academy. The author argues that creative arts research requires understanding and to date little consideration has been given as to how it can be accommodated within existing university structures. Universities therefore need to provide the creative arts time to resolve issues around their intellectual contribution and to value the meaning they ultimately give to our lives.