AMATEUR TRAINING

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30809, 22 July 1965, Page 5

AMATEUR TRAINING

Council To j Help t.V Z. Pre,, Attociation) WELLINGTON, July 22. Emphasis on a new generation of professionals as performers and ! teachers of the arts did ’ not mean that no help i would be given by the Queen Elizabeth II Arts | Council to amateurs, the ' chairman (Mr G. G. G. ! Watson) said today. “It is well recognised that amateur activities are often the training ground for the future professionals,” he told the first meeting of the council's public relations committee. “Therefore, it is necessary' to give support to the amateur organisations but always bearing in mind the prior claims of the profes-j sional organisations." [ Mr Watson said one of the main functions of the council. . acting through its music,! visual arts, ballet and drama' committees, was to raise the standard of all the arts. It was felt this could be: done best in two ways—byi I giving encouragement and sustenance to the professional, artists and by means of bursaries. overseas fellowships and travel grants for the purpose of bringing on a new generation of professionals both as performers and teachers of the arts, Mr Watson said. There was a woeful lack of suitable housing for the ac- : tivities of innumerable groups New Zealand interested in arts. i The public relations comJmittee could greatly help in .remedying the position, he said.