Cultural Olympics

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 96, 26 April 1939, Page 16

Cultural Olympics

Cultural Olympics are being held - again in Philadelphia—with a series of art festivals for adult, junior and senior groups. That phrase "Cultural . Olympics," explains uu American cor* [• respondent, was first used in 1929 when ; Mr. Samuel S. Fl-eischer, rounder of Philadelphia's Graphic Sketch Club, ■ spoke before the National Recreation Association of Louisville. Ffiivo years ‘ later, in a radio address, he urged provision of "opportunities for students . to indulge in Cultural Olympics." "It i must bo remembered," he added, "that i tho Olympic Games, which made a little > r town iu Greece memorable in all history, did not overlook the finer things, and the poets were as conspicuous as i tho athletes. Would it not seem, then. , an extremely practical thing to develop - continuously in American life such 1 Olympic centres worthy of the dcmoc t racy of tho twentieth century?" The ’ purpose of the Cultural Olympics, now duly established, is to stimulate inter- - est in the arts as a worthy leisure-time activity. "We have no desire to > encourage people of mediocre ability tc - aspire to professional standing," ex plains Dr. Gruber. “We want people v to learn to take part in art activities 3 for the joy of it. While we are on the y look-out for genuis, we are primarily interested in teaching people the pleas- _ uro they can find in the creative arts. S ■■■■ ;