Optimistic report by Arts Council

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33279, 17 July 1973, Page 12

Optimistic report by Arts Council

The “new deal'’ for the arts holds great promise for the future, says the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council in its annual report tabled in Parliament last week. The report says that when the March year ended it was clear that the Government intended to provide a great deal more money for the arts, through the council and through other avenues. Because of this indication of a greater recognition of the importance of the arts, the council is reassessing its objectives, while continuing its day-to-day activities in supporting and advising arts organisations. “The recent growth of a wish for political, social, and economic independence that New Zealanders appear to be feeling suggests the country is on the way to national

maturity,” the report says. “If this is so, our arts and crafts have become critically; important to the full development of a satisfying national maturity.” Early in the year the National Government increased funding to the coun-1 cil, “after years of battle in iwhich the lack of significant: change in the council’s in-; come, despite acute inflation.! had seriously worsened its capacity to meet existing commitments.” The grant for the year was ■fixed at $760,000, compared I with a total income of $485,000 the previous year. , During the year, the future stability and status of regional orchestras was upse* by the decision of the N.Z.B.C. to withdraw, on March 31, financial support to the orchestras in Auck-, land, Christchurch and Dun-: edin. The N.Z.B.C. had been supporting the orchestras on the basis of equal contribu-

tions from the corporation, \ the arts council, and local 1 . bodies. Its withdrawal; jeopardised any major step: forward by the orchestras, and increased pressure on the: council to fill the gap, thej report says. The council commissioned John Hopkins, director of music for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, to j report on the problems. This report was published 'two weeks ago. The council has considered it, and has had more consultations with the orchestra and the N.Z.B.C. The results of these; consultations will be the sub- i ject of a report to the Gov-; ernment from the arts! council. The annual report also says that lack of staff has, hampered the proper develop-: .rnent of a regional policy. However, firm decisions were i made during the year on: opera and ballet, after years! of continuing crisis. j