Combined Arts

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 623, 27 March 1929, Page 16

Combined Arts

ATTRACTIVE PROPOSAL APPROVAL OF NEW SCHOOL A School of Fine Arts for Auckland in which would be incorporated facilities for the Auckland Society of Arts, the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society, the Little Theatre Society and the Elam School of Arts, is a proposal now being considered by the University College Council in conjunction with the bodies interested. A committee consisting of Sir George Fowlds, Mr. E. H. Northcroft, and Mr. Charles Rhodes, has been set up to consider the proposals. Outlining the position yesterday Sir George Fowlds said the idea was to erect a building capable of accommodating the University School of Architecture, the School of Music and the proposed new School of Art. There would be facilities for every organisation concerned including a fullyequipped auditorium for the Operatic Society. The expenditure involved was estimated at from £50,000 to £60,000. Additional expenditure would be required for the. establishment of a Chair of Fine Arts. The proposal will be considered by the Auckland Society of Arts at a special meeting to be held to-morrow evening. The president, Dr. E. B. Gunson, said that the society was definitely in favour of the establishment of a school, provided this was practicable. Stating that the Amateur Operatic Society was very favourable toward the proposal, the secretary, Mr. H. Goldie, said his society was prepared t° make a straight-out contribution. “The Little Theatre Society is desperately in need of a hall, as we are at present playing under great difficulty,” said Mr. R. A. Lippincott, a member of the council of the society. A really suitable place to present plays had been sought by the society for some time. The acoustics were bad at the l own Hall concert chamber, while outSide noises were a great interference. Mr. A J. C. Fisher, director of the Elam School of Art, said the scheme was a good one, but there would be many points requiring consideration. In the first place the Elam School had approached the College Council, believing that the interests of art in Auckland would be furthered by the amalgamation of the school with the university. The Government would not agree to this and the proposal had lapsed.