Anomalies Seen In Museum Grants

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31030, 9 April 1966, Page 21

Anomalies Seen In Museum Grants

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, April 8. The director of the Canterbury Museum (Dr. R. S. Duff) yesterday charged that art galleries and museums were being penalised under anomalies existing in thd granting of funds.

Museums and art galleries were supposed to get funds from the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. Yet the council made no secret that it was unable to make capital grants. It had insufficient funds, he said. However even small sports bodies or other organisations could get grants from Golden Kiwi profits. Dr. Duff was speaking during a discussion on grants available to museums at a meeting of the Nelson Provincial Museinn Trust Board. Board members agreed to ask the Art Galleries and Museum Association to discuss the grant anomalies at council level and at its forthcoming annual meeting. The chairman of the board (Mr D. N. Strawbridge) said it was time the Government took all profits from the national lottery and made the grants. “Why should we have to go

begging to the Golden Kiwi Board?” he asked. Dr. Duff said that before the Golden Kiwi lottery was introduced the museums and art galleries could go to the Internal Affairs Department for a considerable subsidy. But since the establishment of the lottery, the arts council was expected to make the grants.