ART GALLERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26782, 27 May 1948, Page 8

ART GALLERY

ATTENDANCES DECLINE GREATER INTEREST URGED A decline in public attendances at the gallery was reported at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Art Gallery Society yesterday. The acting president, Mr A. H. Fisher, suggested in'his report that if the City Corporation could run two buses on Sunday afternoons attendances might be greatly increased. “It is most difficult to understand why there should have been such a serious falling off in attendances, particularly when overseas exhibitions are reported to be invariably crowded with visitors,” Mr Fisher commented. The explanation, he suggested might be the difficulty of transport, for many people had told him that they would visit the gallery on Sundays if buses were running. The new president, Mr A. H. Allen, said the attendance returns for the society's year were compiled on January 31, and consequently the benefit of the number of visitors since then would not be shown. Mr Allen said he wished to stress the need for the support of all citizens, who should ensure that visitors to Dunedin were enabled to see “ the beauty and high quality of the pictures of a young Dominion.” He felt that the value of the gallery, built up by bequests and gifts from citizens, was not fully appreciated. The public must be encouraged to see the pictures and give the gallery its support. In his report Mr Fisher mentioned that six pictures had been obtained during the year through the efforts of the National Art Gallery Fund in London. Many pictures by noted artists were at present commanding high prices, and unfortunately they reached prices far beyond the society’s authorised limit. Discussing the building improvements planned, Mr Fisher said a new wing was required to house the china section as well as for pictures. When the new wing was built he hoped it would be possible to have a special room for china. Officers elected were:—President, Mr A. H. Allen; vice-presidents—Messrs A. H. Fisher, R. Hudson, H. Mandeno and F. D. Barron; council—Miss D. Theomin, Mrs Gerald Ferguson, Mr W. Downie Stewart, Dr Clark Hanan, Messrs Charles V. Smith, F. D. Bell, S. C. Sutherland, S. D. Macpherson, J. Geerin and G. L. Tapley; honorary treasurer, Mr A. C. Matheson.