GRANTS FOR THE ARTS WANTED

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30706, 23 March 1965, Page 9

GRANTS FOR THE ARTS WANTED

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 21. The New Zealand Federation of Operatic Societies wants the Queen Elizabeth Arts Council to have the power of making capital grants to the arts in the same way as sporting bodies get grants from Golden Kiwi profits.

Delegates attending the fifth annual meeting of the federation on Saturday said the amount of money given by the Government to the Arts Council precluded such grants being made. “This dearth of funds is severely restricting the development of many cultural activities,” one delegate said. The council could widen its scope if more money were available, a remit carried by the meeting said. All societies in the federation will be asked to increase the price of seats for their productions by 3d, the proceeds of the levy to be used to set up a capital assistance fund. This was decided after Mr T. W. Blennerhassett reported on the need for a trust fund which could be drawn on by member bodies. He estimated that a fund of £lO,OOO was needed. Mr Blennerhassett said that federation members played to audiences of at least 200,000 people a year.

A capitation levy of 3d could produce possibly £2500 a year but even if only £lOOO or £5OO was obtained the fund would build up by degrees.