Respectability” In Art And Culture

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 16

Respectability” In Art And Culture

"The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, Dec. 6. Art and culture were words that frightened the average New Zealander, Mr Donald Thompson, of Masterton, told a New Zealand Federation of Operatic Societies seminar. Nevertheless, said Mr Thompson, they were the key to a “full and well-rounded life.” Mr Thompson, the federation’s North Island vice-presi-dent, was defending the cause of the operatic society. He claimed that operatic societies, even among members, were considered not quite respectable. Then there was the purely academic approach to the theatre: “The danger here arises from official attitudes taken and policies adopted by various boards, councils and Government departments who rely heavily on guidance from the theoretician and the intellectual. “When this happens, only certain forms of theatre become acceptable, certain arts respectable; the rest are not considered seriously,” he said. “Our aim should be to be taken very seriously indeed.” Mr Thompson said the operatic movement had weathered the storms of time,

fashion and the changing patterns of visual and vocal entertainment, as well as. if not better than most other cultural groups. Operatic societies involved more people, played to more people and used a higher percentage of younger people than any other New Zealand cultural group. Audience figures, particularly in provincial centres, were impressive and were stabilising again since the introduction of television.