EVERYDAY NEED

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 147, 24 June 1933, Page 9

EVERYDAY NEED

THE FUNCTION OF ART

A DOMINATING FORCE .

PLACE IN INDUSTRY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, May 12. Sir William Llewellyn, president, responding, to the toast of "The Royal Academy" at tho annual banquet, said he wished to emphasise that art was ono of the chief factors in national development, and as such should be encouraged and supported to the full by tho Government and all responsible bodies. "Art education," he continued, "is as necessary in any scheme of national education as the teaching of science and industry. Art is not merely a matter of painting, sculpture, and architecture, of writing books or plays, or composing music; it is really and truly a dominating force in all human production." Sir William announced that next winter there would be an exhibition of British art, on the same comprehensive lines as the recent exhibition of foreign art, from early times to about the middle of the nineteenth century. He added:— "It will include paintings in oil and water-colours, sculpture, drawings, miniatures, tapestries,, embroidery, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' work, furniture, porcelain, and other objets dart. For this exhibition the academy is being assisted by a number of wellknown experts, and after months of work, I may say tho arrangements for the exhibition aud tho choice of works is fairly complete in our minds. "We feel it is most necessary for the credit of Britain that nothing should be left undone to, make our exhibition of British art one which will compare favourably with any of those of other countries which have already taken place. If wo can secure the goodwill and co-operation of owners it is certain that we can produce an exhibition of astonishing quality, and secure for ourselves a high place among tho nations who havo contributed to the world's store of artistic treasures." INDUSTRIAL ART. Sir William, referring to another exhibition already in preparation, said: — "It is a matter of national urgency that British industry should receive every encouragement, and the Royal Academy, acting with the Council of the Royal Society of Arts, is to give a lead iir emphasising the importance of art in industry. "The exhibition will be devoted to showing designs for manufactured articles so as to impress, tho importance of good ' design in tho products of industry. "What is needed is closer co-opera-tion between tho artist,' the manufacturer, and the public. Wo need to recover tho application of beauty to everyday things by which means we hope that many industries will rise to their old prosperity and lost markets will bo recovered. "In this newer ago of mechanism the reason why we do not make all .quantity products beautiful is not because it cannot bo done; it is because wo havo hardly begun to try. A good deal can be done by exhibitions of the best work and specially prepared work to train tho taste of the public, the trade-buyers, and tho manufacturers. "Technical achievement is as high ns ever it was. Unfortunately, in the present timo of financial stress, there is little encouragement to great endeavour among artists, and they arc compelled to work in those directions that will provide a moderate living. TASTE FOR ARCHITECTURE. ' "It is perhaps in the field of architecture and kindred matters that great public interest has recently displayed itself. This, I think, began with tho campaign for the saving of Waterloo Bridge, a matter in which public opinion was particularly. stirred. Happily, the bridge is now safe from destruction, and is to bo reconditioned aud preserved for future generations. "In theso matters continued aud. persistent education of the public is necessary, not only in London, but throughout the country. Local authorities should/ exercise their powers judicially and under expert advice, and should always keep before them the fact that beauty once destroyed can never bo recovered. "Finally, I think there is real hope for the future. Art education and knowledge are greatly on the increase, and many young people arc growing up with an intellectual appreciation of the aTls and a consequent concern with tho artistic side of life."