INDUSTRIAL ART INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 205, 24 May 1919, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL ART INSTITUTE

PLANS TO RAISE BRITISH STANDARD STANDING EXHIBITION IN LONDON _ Details of the scheme for the Cbta'blishment of a British Institute of Industrial Art were issued recently by tho Board of Trade. The scheme has been framed'.by tho Board of. Trade in conjunction with (ho Board of Education and with the advice, of the Royal Society of Arts, the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, the Art Workers' Guild, and the Design and Industries Association. Tho institute will bo constituted under a Council of Governors, of which tho following are the/first members:—Sir Kenneth Anderson/' Sir Henry Birchenough, Mr. F. V-. Burridge, Sir Cecil Harcourt Smith, Sir Hubert Llewellyn Smith, Sir Isidore Spielmann, Mr. F. W. Troup, Sir Frank Warner, Mr. llenry Wilson, and Mr. U. F. Wintour, The objects aimed at are the raising and maintenance of the standard of exccllencc in works of industrial art produced by British designers, craftsmen, and manufacturers, and the stimulation of the demand for works whose standard of excellence is high. Special Objects. In particular, ii i 6 sought to secure:— A permanent exhibition in London of modern British works which attain to a high standard of design, craftsmanship, and manufacture.

The organisation of provincial and travelling- exhibitions of a similar character, either, directly or in co-operation with other brganisations. The establishment of machinery for bringing designers and art workers into closer touch with manufacturers, distributors, and others whom it is desired to interest on their behalf. A purchase fund to secure for the Stato selected works of outstanding merit. One fjcction at tlio exhibitions will bo devoted to mechanically-produced worts and another to works of individual craftsmen. A high standard of artistic design,apart ■ from representation; of any particular "school" or tendency, will.be the test for inclusion, And in addition to the governing body, it is proposed «lo constitute a strong selection committee, consisting of persons of .acknowledged authority and eminence In matters relating to industrial art. * An Information Bureau. It is not intended that sales of works mechanically produced shall be effected through the agency of the institute. A charge for space may be mado in respect of such exhibits, and an Information Bureau will be set up with tho following purposes:— To put the distributor into touch with the manufacturer, and the manufacturer with new markets. To bring manufacturers and designers into touch with one another. To furnish the public with the names of retailers from whom the objects exhibited may be obtained. .Tt is hoped that foreign as well as British buyers may find in the valuable and trustworthy information furnished l>y tho bureau an additional attraction to tho exhibition. An agency will be maintained exolusively for the sale on commission of original works and replicas wholly produced by individual craftsmen.