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All the exhibitions held during the year were very well attended. The Management Committee encourages the schools to send their pupils to the Gallery, and many parties of school-children visited the exhibitions and were admitted free of charge. Lectures. During exhibition times voluntary lectures and radio talks were given by members of the Management Committee and others. These were of great assistance to visitors in helping them to understand and enjoy the pictures. Mr. Arthur Lismer. Mr. Arthur Lismer, A.R.C.A., 0.5.A., Educational Supervisor of the Toronto Art Gallery, paid a visit to New Zealand in June. At the National Gallery he gave an interesting practical demonstration of the methods employed in Toronto for teaching art appreciation, particularly in regard to schoolchildren. Co-operation between Art School and Art Gallery. The Director of the Wellington Technical College has arranged for a teacher of the Art School to be available at the Gallery 011 two mornings a week to give talks on art appreciation to secondary-school pupils and children of the Fifth and Sixth Standards of the primary schools. The lectures were commenced in February and will be continued. Arrangement of Pictures. The Hanging Committee has rearranged and hung the National Collection pictures. This was: necessary as, owing to the large number of special exhibitions held, it had not been possible to make a proper arrangement of the pictures previously, besides which a change in the arrangement of the pictures revives and creates interest in the Gallery. New Zealand and Australian works have been hung in the east wing, British and foreign in the west wing, and two galleries of the east wing are devoted to portraits. The Hanging Committee has been active also in arranging to have proper storage accommodation and workroom facilities provided in the Gallery. Storage racks have been installed and work-benches and essential tools have been obtained. Muslin has been fixed over the sky-lights of the Galleries to tone down the light, which it was feared would fade the water-colours. The provision of blinds was considered, but as no completely satisfactory method of fixing and working them could be used they were not obtained. Catalogues. Next year it is intended to publish a comprehensive catalogue of the National Collection pictures, and preparatory work has been proceeding during the year. Full details regarding all pictures in the Collection have been obtained from old records and a card-index system has been compiled. A brief guide to the collections in the Art Gallery and Museum has been prepared and is to be issued shortly. Facsimile Reproductions. Last year's report made reference to the generous grant of £1,000 received from the Carnegie Corporation of New York for purchase of a collection of facsimile reproductions of pictures. Part of this grant has been expended by the Management Committee in purchasing the " contrast " collection, details of which are given elsewhere in this report. The sub-committee has spent much time in drawing up lists of pictures of which reproductions should be purchased and in obtaining quotations so that the complete Collection will be representative of every school of painting from the earliest primitives to the present day. The Gallery cannot possibly acquire a collection of works by old masters, and it is felt that the reproductions which are being obtained will be invaluable for educational work. Wilful Damage to Picture. A regrettable incident during the year was the wilful damage of the oil painting May Morning, by Harold Speed, in the National Collection. Unfortunately, the picture was mutilated beyond repair by a visitor to the Gallery. Press. The Committee desires to record its thanks and appreciation to the press for the support and publicity given through its columns in connection with exhibitions and other activities. Acquisitions. The Committee has no endowment available at present for purchasing pictures. The Gallery will, later on, benefit from the Sir Harold Beauchamp Endowment Fund (now approximately £12,000), the interest on which will be available for the purchase of pictures when it accumulates to £15,000 the " Ellen Eames Collection Fund," estimated to realize at least £20,000 ; and the Thomas Lindsay Buick Bequest, estimated to realize over £10,000. During the year, however, chiefly through the generosity of public-spirited citizens, a number of interesting works were added to the National Collection. The following is a list of the works acquired : — " Pines " (water-colour), by Frances Hodgkins. Presented by Mrs. Charles Elgar, Featherston. " Pohutukawas, Piha " (water-colour), by S. J. Lamorna Birch, R.A. Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clabburn, Wellington. " Portrait of His Grace Archbishop Redwood," by C. Porta. Presented by members of his family.

Inset H. 21.

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