EXHIBITION OF ART

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1930, Page 7

EXHIBITION OF ART

AN EMPIRE UNDERTAKING. DISPLAY IN LONDON PLANNED. A proposal to hold in London a representative exhibition of art from all parts of the British Empire, was outlined in a letter received from the Royal British. Colonial Society of Artists at the annual meeting of the Auckland Society of Arts. The proposal is for an exhibition of overseas art in the galleries of the Royal Academy of Arts in London for eight weeks, from early in January next year to the middle of March. The letter stated it was ex zpccted that there would be no difficulty in providing hanging space for about 1600 pictures and bronzes, the average number hung in the 16 rooms of the Royal Academy. The letter said the whole of the expenses of the exhibition at the London end would be the responsibility of the Royal British .Colonial Society. These expenses, which would amount to several thousand pounds, would include unloading at the docks, the expenses of upkeep of the gallery during the exhibition, hanging and unhanging, advertising, printing, unpacking and repacking, carriage and insurance in Great Britain. A request for the Auckland Society’s views on the matter was included in the letter. It was pointed out that as sv i an exhibition would be very expensive for the British Society it would hardly be advisable to undertake it unless it was assured of the hearty support of overseas bodies and that the very best and most important work from the various artists and art societies throughout the Empire would be contributed. An alternative suggestion had been made that the exhibition should be limited to half of the galleries of the Royal Academy, the letter added. In this event the exhibition ■ would be ■ held later in the year and would include about 750 works, but it was hoped to receive support from all parts of the Empire in favour of the larger exhibition. Dr. E. B. Gunson, president of the Auckland Society, said the proposal would be discussed at a conference of delegates from all New Zealand art societies in Wellington on October 3. It was very desirable that New Zealand should support and take part in such an exhibition, but there were great difficulties to be overcome.