NEW ART GALLERY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18415, 23 June 1925, Page 10

NEW ART GALLERY.

MONEY WANTED.

DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL

A deputation representing the Art Society and the Citizens' Committeo recently set up to consider the matter of the erection of a Municipal Art Gallery waited on the City Council last night.

Dr. Chilton said that an Art Gallery was possessed by every city •.-£ note. Auckland and Dunedin had had Art Galleries for man} - years, but Christchureh never had what could be called -an Art Gallery. The City had an art collection —that was all. Th? matter was one of urgency, for tlio present' building was altogether inadequate to hold the present collection, and a collection formed by Mr Ja-j. Jamicson, who desired to give it to the public provided it eculd be suitab'y housed. That collection alone was worth about £SOOO, and with the Art Society's collection, which would to handed over on terms, would form tin beginning of a good, municipal' Avi Gallery. The Domains Board had pro videda site near the Museum, and what was wanted now was money for the building. The sum of £ 25,000 would be required. Mr E. C. Huie, vice-president of tho Canterbury Art Society, said that puhlic authorities the world over recognised the advantage of providing the community with a collection of works of art. The love of the beautiful spread culture through a community. Auck land, which already Irad an Art Gallery, was now contemplating the expenditure of £150,000 on a new Gallery. A sum of £50,000 would provide Christchureh with an adequate Art Gallery. ' The collection of tha Art Society was at the service-of tl.e City, and would be handed over to the City if a new Gallery was providedj and the Art Society was associated in the control of the new Gallery. There were most valuable painting.? in many homes in Canterbury, and these would probably be handed over to a municipal Art Gallery should sujh be established. Apart from interest and sinking fund, the cost of upkeep of the proposed new Gallery would not be heavy, probably not more than £3n(; a year. He had suggested to tho former Mayor that a loan proposal should be put to the ratepayers to pre vide an Art Gallery, but Mr Fle':he:' asked that the suggestion should be deferred until the municipal buildings were completed.

. Cr. A. McKellar moved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to consider and report. The motion was seconded by Cr. E McCombs, who said the Council should take steps to make some provision for a new Art Gallery. -The motion was carried.