AUCKLAND ART SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 230, 27 September 1911, Page 5

AUCKLAND ART SOCIETY.

A SUCCESSFUL SEASON". THE ANNUAL REPORT. The annual meeting of the Auckland ■Society of Arts takes place to-morrow evening. The 30th annual report indicates that the council is in the fortunate position of being able to record a most successful year. In compliance with the resolution passed at the last annual meeting the council drafted a new constitution and' set of rules for the society, 'based largely on those of the Canterbury and New South Wales Art Societies. These were adopted, and proper legal standing has now been obtained by incorporation under the Incorporated Societies Act of. 1908. Mention is made in the course of'the report of the severe loss sustained in April last by the death of the president of the society (Mr. E. W. G. Rat'fobone), particular reference •being given to his work as the originator of the Picture Purchase Fund. The chief feature of the society's activity, the annual exhibition, was this year a remarkable success. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington), in opening the exhibition, had strongly pointed out the necessity for the public to encourage artists by purchasing their work, and showed his practical sympathy in this direction 'by buying several pictures at the exhibition. It was gratifying to note that the sale of pictures this year considerably exceeded in value that of any previous exhibition of the society, the value of the works sold amounting to £596 2/, as against £333 1/6 last year. This indicated that the practical patronage of art in our community was on the upgrade. The amount received for admission to the exhibition, also, was easily a record for the society (£245 15/, being almost double that of the previous year (£127 16/6). This went to show that the public interest has been largely aroused in the recent forward' movement of the society. As far as the exhibition itself was concerned, it was generally conceded that it ranked amongst t'he best ever held by the society, one of its great features being the admirable manner in which the pictures were hung to avoid inharmonious grouping, and to mark its appreciation of the excellent way in which this work was carried out by Mr. Harry Wallace, who was solely responsible for the selection and hanging, t'he council had much pleasure in recommending the society to elect him a life member. As in previous years, the Ladies' Committee added materially to the success of the exhibition by dispensing afternoon tea on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. The council had under consideration the holding of an arts and crafts exhibition for the purpose of encouraging and developing art in those branches which it was-not possible to include in the annual exhibition. In connection with this proposal, it had also been suggested that a one-day monthly exhibition of artists' works should be arranged for in the future. The council decided not to hold any competitions this year, except for a design for the cover of the exhibition catalogue, for wftich a prize of two pounds was offered, the successful competitor being Mr. J. Fitzgerald. The membership now consists of 56 life, 154 honorary, and 123 working members. This showed; an increase of 44 for the year—22. honorary and 22 working members.

The balance-sheet showed that the bank balance at. the end of the year, including balance of Government subsidy (£353), was £578 19/7.