ART GALLERY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1927, Page 10

ART GALLERY

WHY DOES WELLINGTON WAIT? THREE YEARS' INACTIVITY; REVIEW OF THE POSITION A review of the present position, with ' regard to the proposed Art Gallery for Wellington, was sought by "The Post" from the president of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts (Mr. Ernest W. Hunt). The result \vaß not encouraging for the cause of art, for Mr. Hunt stated that (in his opinion) the present position was far from satisfactory. Pressed for reasons, Mr. Hunt said they were mainly two: Firstly, the failure of the Government t6 settle either the question of the Board of Trustees, or the site question; and, secondly] by the possible conflict of interests on the part of those interested in the proposed combined scheme, whereby the Art Gallery, a Museum, a National and Wellington War Memorial, and Carillon were involved. He added that the initial endeavour to promote a combined Dominion Museum and Art Gallery dated back to 1924, when in July of that year Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C. (now Sir Charles Skerrett) led a deputation to Mr. Massey, making the following requests:— B 1. That a combined Dominion Museum and Art Gallery, with full accommodation for the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts (on that body contributing £10,000 to the Citizens' Fund), should be promoted on a basis of a total cost of £200,000, onehalf to be found by the Government and the other half by the citizens of Wellington. 2. Suggesting that the site of the present Dominion Museum should lit definitely allocated to the scheme. 3. That provision should be made by the Government for the annual upkeep of the Dominion Museum and Art Gallery as obtains under present conditions. 4. That the control and management of these two institutions should be entrusted to non-political boardi as trustees. THE GOVEBNMENT OFFER. On Cth November, 1920, the then Prime Minister advised that the Government had agreed to contribute ' pound for pound on a building to coat up to £200,----000, but made no reference to the important questions of site, upkeep, or trustees. The committee -which had the combined project in view were unwilling to take any action until these other matters were settled* and the matter drifted on until March, 1926, when a deputation waited upon the Hoc. ilr. Coates,,bringing all these matters under his notice. Th.c deputation was then informed that the matter had been referred to a special committee of the Cabinet, whose report had not, up till that time, been received; the question of trustees, etc., had not yet been dealt with. Jhe next move was a meeting,, con.vened by his Worship the Mayor, in. June, 1926, for the purpose of considering the .„ amalgamation of, various schemes, namely, Dominion Museum, National Art Gallery, Carillon, National War Memorial, and Wellington War Memorial. A deputation from this committee subsequently interviewed the Hon. Mr. Downie Stewart, when the whole matter was very fully discussed, and th« efforts to bring about finality on the former scheme dealt with. This amalgamated scheme is still under consideration, although no definite move towardi raising funds has been made. It will thus be seen that the question of the establishment of an adequate Art Gallery has been delayed for nearly three years, and while the amalgamated scheme is still under discussion the question of the Art Gallery, does not appear to be definitely advanced. "In my opinion," added Mr. Hunt, "the possible difficulties between the various interests, may have the effect of delaying the Art Gallery project for an undue\period, unless some more defined and separate movement is inaugurated. After giving the matter very careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that, however desirable amalgamation might appear to be, the fact remains that the Art Gallery project is being unduly delayed, although the time has been opportune for some time past to place it successfully; before the public." "GET ON WITH IT." Mr. Hunt further said that in addition to the proceeds of sale of fhe present Art feallery building in Whitmore street, which would amount to not less than £10,000, a definite offer of £5000 from Sir Harold Beauchamp had been made (in addition to his £10,000 trust fund for pictures), which ho had reason to believe would be available for the Art Gallery project separately; and this, with other promises, would almost certainly bring the starting figure to over £20,000. "With this sum available, and other amounts in almost certain prospect," Mr. Hunt said, "we should get on with it.", Therefore he favoured proceeding with the Art Gallery project separately forthwith, as he felt assured that a sum could quite easily be raised to provide for at least a very substantial wing of any proposed building. NO CREDIT TO WELLINGTON. Mr. Hunt stated that it was no credit to Wellington that there has not been, a good Art Gallery in the city, and is of opinion that the proposal, if placed before the citizens at the present time, would receive very substantial and whole-hearted support.. "Wellington must have a gallery," ho continued, "and if step* are ao* taken at an early date, there if gray« danger of the city losing very substantial donations, which have already beof promised to thb building fund, in. ftd* dition to the loss of many valuable pie« tures, which' will, in all probability, go' elsewhere.'' One matter, which in Mr. Hunt's opinion was of the very greatest importanco to the city, was the undoubted attitude of tho public in regard to the gifts of pictures. Very valuable gifts had been made, he said, to the gallerios in Auckland, Ohristchurch, Dunedin, and Wangauui, in some instances of pictures which would have been given to the Wellington Gallery if it had been capable of housing them. He laid particular stress also on the Bplendid giffj of the capital fur> of £10,000, made some few years ago to the Dominion Gallery by Sir Haro" Beauehamp, which would, in a few yenrs' time, pro' vide an annual amount of not K-,a than! £500, which would be available for all time to purchase important pictures. This was a most generous gift, which appears to have been overlooked by the citizens, but which will have a very real significance as time goes on. "Do tho public realise what this perpetual grant of £500 per annum really moans to art in the city and to the" Dominion?" concluded Mr. Hunt, suggesting in his final word that a meeting of these interested in the ' Art Gallery, should be called to deal with the matter at an earjjr date. „• -" -'-"-- -"—-