ARTS COUNCIL FOR N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 3

ARTS COUNCIL FOR N.Z.

Prospect “Horrifies”

Artist

•‘The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, August 23.

“There has been much talk about the forming of an arts council in New Zealand and the prospect horrifies me,” Mr S. B. Maclennan. director of the National Gallery, said when he opened the Wellington Art Club exhibition. He feared that the formation of such a council would do away with individual effort which was so important in art.

Mr Maclennan named wealthy institutions and families who throughout the ages had instituted galleries and made collections of famous works.

“It has been argued that patrons of wealth are now taxed out of being and it is therefore the job of the Government to provide money for the arts. “From this it is argued further that an arts council then becomes necessary as a channel through which the money—if it is given—can go through . . . But I still have great faith in patronage.” It was true that there were no longer patrons to endow art galleries with great collections but he thought it a pity.if anything was done at the moment to the fine' arts to stifle any individual action.

“The time has come for each separate art body to do its utmost to establish its own individuality.”