Studio: international art (7.1896)

Art and Artists in Australia

exception all professionals;
sub-committees also carry out
entertainments and social
programmes.

There are about 140 mem-
-' bers ; of these about 40 are
professional, at an annual
subscription of £1 is. An-
other marked improvement in
Victorian Art affairs of late
years has been the disposition
on the part of the National
Gallery Trustees to recognise
more fully the Artists' Society.
For years past the former
body have had large sums of
L_- money to spend in works of
^l^^i^^^^^^^^^^^i^—"'^''^'^H Art. In addition to carrying

,fw\ ^&k£ I'^c^~5ra^^^^£!|^^^- fy vtfrk on the Library, .Museum, and

:-\ ' ^^f^^ia^i*-other branches of scientific

\ I A ^^^^C^^^^^'Ja*^^''^^' P}"* •;' import, they conduct well-
•i V\ Y^tfe"^ _i^^M^^/j«gv".t*[y^1 equipped studios for the use

-yoa. \. J^^^y tTl anc* training of students,

•^^^;-V^tf^^» >\.r^~\ rather to the detriment of

/ yjT^^^L'1 '^^^^^^^^^^^'^^ I ~ those unfortunate enough to
^"TT^sJt^^t?-^,.. -^J^HK?e^i^... )f '"'^^^^ i^W./ have to impart tuition; but

' Jt ^ ' ,. Jf^r there are strong reasons why

' ! '^i''./]-"^^^^^^?-- N. i5' 1 f- V^-> 'r""-p^! Art education in Victoria

' ///' hftft// !' <8|lP/^\ '^W^^^^^. should not be left under the
,'. 1 S J.// ■ ;: —^^^^t^" '■ "^"''/ control of the gallery trustees

\\ : I7/ ■ - -i, as at present constituted. The

^^W^^^^^^P/ ■ 1^®^^-" interest of student and artist

\ W" r * '■ N are identical; but the moral

J result of the administration at

Swanston Street is to disin-

VICTORIAN ARTISTS SOCIETY A SMOKE NIGHT ...

tegrate artistic interests. The
trustees may not be con-
after close on three years' existence the two societies demned for securing as much credit to themselves
were welded together, under the style of the as possible for their Art students' exhibitions and
l! Victorian Artists' Society." It was a memorable their scholarships, but it must detract inevitably from
night when the new and stronger section became the public interest taken in other artistic endeavours,
members of the old society, to outvote their The beating of drums in Swanston Street must
weaker brethren, thereby obtaining the birthright deaden the sound from the other " show" at
and the blessing (an annual Government subsidy Eastern Hill. That the trustees "labour truly"
of .£250). It was not long before competitive may be admitted, but gentlemen whose appoint-
designs were called for, and the present gallery, ments constitute an official recognition of some
which stands on the old site in Albert Street, past service to the State (only one of whose number
takes the credit of being the only properly built being an artist) cannot reasonably be expected to
picture gallery in the Southern Hemisphere. It decide upon Art questions as affecting the corn-
comprises two fairly spacious rooms, admirably munity in addition to their other duties. Only
lighted in daytime, and an electric light installation within the past three years has an artist, after much
for night; there are also a life class, stair gallery, and opposition, had a seat upon this board ; true, there
three useful clubrooms. The committee consists is a salaried Art Director or instructor for the
of a president and twelve members, with one schools. The present occupant is the most useful
92