Arts Council Talks ‘Jeopardised’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32119, 15 October 1969, Page 30

Arts Council Talks ‘Jeopardised’

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 14. Criticism by the chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council (Mr W. N. Sheat) of a group of artists was difficult to reconcile with Mr Sheat’s public admissions of the council’s shortcomings, a spokesman for the group said last night.

Mr W. R. Allen, a spokesman for Artists, Critics, and Teachers for Action, said Mr Sheat’s admissions included that the council had a poor image, that its communication with creative artists was at fault, and that it had been lax in its administration.

Mr Sheat was quoted in a Wellington message on Sunday as saying that the Auckland artists who had crticised the council had talked twaddle.

“By confining his remarks to a group of Auckland artists, he is ignoring the protests made by groups in Christchurch, Dunedin, New Plymouth and elsewhere, and the fact that the criticisms have not by any means been confined to the visual arts," said Mr Allen. “His comment also makes it difficult for A.C.T.F.A. to take seriously the council’s invitation to a meeting on

October 22 to discuss the criticism and positive proposals that A.C.T.F.A. has made," said Mr Allen. “If Mr Sheat has prejudged the issues as twaddle, and, as he says elsewhere, ‘ill informed,’ then little could be gained by such a meeting,” Mr Allen said.

Previous protests had been treated in a rather cavalier manner. “This invitation was the first sign of genuine concern by the arts council about these problems,” said Mr Allen. “Mr Sheat’s comments have jeopardised what could have been a most productive exchange.”