Otago revives fellowship

Press, 18 March 1987, Page 22

Otago revives fellowship

The Frances Hodgkins Fellowship at Otago University, which was suspended late last year, has been partially revived. The Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council has given a grant of $7OOO and a group of concerned Dunedin citizens has raised the balance of the $15,250 needed for a six month 1987 residency.

The residential fellowship, for painters and sculptors, was established by the University of Otago in 1962. It usually runs for 12 months. Last year however, the university decided that, “in order to consolidate the Fellowship funds,” it would not be awarded in 1987.

“A group of individuals then approached the University to see whether the residency could be offered if funds were found from other sources,” said the Arts Council visual arts manager, John McCormack.

“When the University agreed, Peter Gilchrist approached us on behalf of the group and asked if we would be prepared to give some money under our artist-in-residence programme. We agreed to a grant of $7OOO subject to matching funds being found from the community.”

The purpose of the Hodgkins Fellowship is to help and encourage painters and sculptors in the practice of their art, to associate them with the life of the University of Otago and at the same time foster an interest in art within the university.

Past Fellows have included Michael Illingworth, Ralph Hotere, Michael Smither, Marilynn Webb, Jeffrey Harris, Matt Pine, and Gretchen Albrecht. It is expected that the 1987 holder will be announced soon.