WORK OF SOCIETY OF ARTS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21647, 4 December 1935, Page 19

WORK OF SOCIETY OF ARTS

ANNUAL MEETING HELD : "At times one hears that the Canterbury Society of Arts does -not do as much as it ought, but Whfen.it is realised that the society has given pictures to the value of £9OOO odd to the Robert McDougall. Art Gallery, end that it has its own collection, it will be seen how much the society had done towards helping art;in Christchurch," said Mr McGregor Wtight when seconding the motion, proposed by the president of the Canterbury Society of Art 3 (Mr S. L. Thompson) at the annual meeting of the society yesterday afternoon, that the report and balance-sheet should be adopted. "Mr Thompson and the .artist members of the council have helped very much indeed to form the collection of pictures at the new memorial hall at the Technical College," he said. "Members of the society have given '«uitures to the value of £6OO to mis collection. It was once the custom for the Techncial College to buy a picture each year, but .it-has- been found impossible to do sq during recent years; it is to be hoped, however, that' it will be possible to buy pictures again, and so reward those who have given to the College." - ' - Mr Thompson said that he had been away for many years, and could praise the society for what it had done. He thought, however, that the honour of securing the collection was due to Mr McGregor Weight The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr J. FiteGerald said that he h&d received a letter from New Plymouth asking that a small collection of pic* tures should be made to be exhibited in the smaller centres. It was stated that if-any town desired to hold an exhibition it could easily obtain pictures from the artists, • provided that - arrangements could be made to organise the exhibition.

Education in Art -Miss Rose Zeller said that Interest In art should, be furthered among children by lectures in the Robert McBougall Art Gallery, givenby members of the society. ,Mr .R. Wallwork; The City Council has debated the matter when the offer of a grant from the Carnegie Corporation was before them. The gallery is the property of the council, and application lor its use for this purp«so should be made through the town clerk. Mr Thompson said that the Carnegie Corporation had offered the sum of £IO,OOO for education to art. It was for the council of the society to due application for a grant The following officers were elected: Patron, the Governor-General, Lord Gal way; president, Mr S. L. Thompson; vice-presidents, Dr. Or. M. L. Lester, Messrs H. G. Helmore, B. a Huie, A, F. Nicoll, and McGregor Wright; council, Messrs K. BaUanlyne, A. E.