The Society of Arts.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4315, 18 March 1884, Page 4

The Society of Arts.

(To the Editor.)

Sin, —I have seen two letters in oneof-your recent issues, both answers to my former communoiation re the new Art Students' Association. Tho gravamon of my complaint was that the Society of Arts, amongst its numerous prizes and certificates, have none for artists. They are all for amateurs, students, pupils, and fancy art work—nay, when a prize is offered for a special department of art, artists aro expressly excluded from competing. Why this thusness? If tho Society of Arts called itself a society for tho oncouragemont of amateurs and juvoniles and fancy work, well and good; as it is, until they revise tlioir schedule of prizes and rewards they must be content to have their cosmopolitan title considered an utter misnomer. The liberal scale of prizes and the wisdom displayed In the classification thereof by the now Society will probably, whether intentionally or unintentionally, have tho effect of causing artists to reserve their best works for this Society's exhibitions, where they will not bo ignored in favour of the juvonilo, amateur, and fancy element, and where, in addition to the solid pudding of pales, they have also the chance of the barren but pleasant honours of medals and certificates. I stated that the new Socioty was the product of a widespread dissatisfaction with tho management of the old Socioty. So it is ; not with tho personnel or with tlio objects of the Socioty of Arts, but with its schedulo of prizos, which, as far as artists are concerned, is an u^tcr blank. In conclusion I may say (simply to show that I have no animus in the matter) that I had nothing whatoyor to do with the formation of the now Society.and knew nothing about it till it was fully started, .and its rules, &c, already printed and distributed ; and also that I am a member of both societies myself.—l am, &c, A Well-wisher to Art.