TRAVELLING ART SCHOLARSHIPS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 15, Issue 366, 28 June 1946, Page 32

TRAVELLING ART SCHOLARSHIPS

History of Australian Awards

N September last we printed an article in which a strong plea was made for a Travelling Art Scholarship for New Zealarid students. The writer of the article, a Wellington artist, who signed herself "Barc," later sent it to the Minister for Education in New South Wales, and at the same time asked for further information about the Scholarship available in Sydney. We are now permitted to publish the Minister’s reply: Dear Madam,-Following upon ‘the receipt of your letter dated October 24, I wish to advise you that your articles appear to suggest that there has been one continuous scholarship. This is not really the case. Prior to 1935 the Government subsidised two Art Societies operating in New South Wales, ie., The Society of Artists and the Royal Art Society. The former Society used its subsidy to finance a travelling scholarship; the latter to conduct a series of classes. In 1935 the then Minister decided to withdraw both subsidies and establish a fund for the establishment of an annual Government Scholarship. The Department has no record of the winners of the Society of Artists Scholarship. If you desire information re these I suggest that you write to Sydney Ure Smith, Esq., Federation House, 166 Phillip Street, Sydney, who will be able to supply these details. Appointment of Adjudicators: Adjudicators are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Committee

established to manage the Scholarship. They are appointed for one Competition only. You will see by the Rules that there is an implication that there shall be a different panel for each Competition. This has been observed throughout. Costs of Administration: These are reduced to a minimum and really involve only the travelling and accommodation expenses of the Adjudicator brought from Victoria or South Australia. The Secretary is a Departmental Officer. The Committee receives no fees and no honorarium is paid to the Adjudicators. Experience: Reference to the accompanying table will show an important change of policy in 1938. It was found that two years was too short a time to enable the scholar to get full advantage from studies abroad. Simultaneously, students of Landscape urged that some provision should be made for them. It was decided to extend the Figure Painting Scholarship to three years, make it a biennial competition, and interpose a one-year Scholarship for Landscape. The experience has not been altogether satisfactory and the Committee has come to the conclusion that the existence of a scholarship of "secondary" importance is open to objection. It -has accordingly been decided to abandon the Landscape Competition and to devote the funds so saved to increasing the value of the Figure Painting Scholarship. The amendment of Rules on. these lines is proceeding. It is possible that candidates will be given an opportunity of showing their special proclivities by (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) submitting a "free choice" panel in addition to the prescribed studies, This, however, has not been finally decided. Your letter might suggest that scholarship winners are bound to give service in return for the facilities afforded. This is not so. The Committee has preferred not to tie the winners with any conditions as to where they shall study or as to "after service." During the war years travel was impossible and travel within the Common. wealth was permitted, subject to supervision by the Committee. Committee: Chairman-The Director General of Education. Deputy Chairman-The Superintendent of Technical Education. Ex officio members-The Director of the National Art Gallery of N.S.W.; the Principal of the East Sydney Art School. Representatives-S. Ure Smith (representing Society of Artists); Sydney Long (representing Royal Art Society ). Other members-Wm. Dobell, Squire Morgan, Eric Langker. Yours faithfully, (sgd.) J. R. HEFFRON. Details of the winners of Society of Artists’ scholarships appearing on this page were supplied by Sydney Ure Smith, of Art in Australia, and the list of Government award winners by the Government of New South Wales.

Age at Date Value Studies Followed in % Year Awarded to of award For Tenure (p.a.) (Country) : Present Occupation 1900 G.W.LAMBERT,A.R.A. — Painting 3 years £150 England and Paris " Was professional painter in England and Australia . 1923 ROI DE MESTRE «. 30. Painting 2 years £250 England and Paris Professional painter in England 1925 ARTHUR MURCH « 23 Painting and 2 years £250 England & Continent Professional painter and sculptor in Sydney, Sculpture acted as official war artist this war for period of six months. 1927 DOUGLAS DUNDAS — Painting 2 years £250 England & Continent Professional painter in Sydney, Instructor of painting, East Sydney Technical College. 1929 WILLIAM DOBELL 30. = ~Painting 2 years £250 England Professional painter in England and later in Sydney. . Was art instructor East Sydney Technical. College. : 1931 HAROLD ABBOTT 25 Painting 2 years £250 England Profesional painter. 1933 A. D. FREEMAN under 30 Painting 2 years £250 England Official War Artist, after service in A.LF abroad.

WINNERS OF SOCIETY OF ARTISTS' AWARD

1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 BARBARA TRIBE J. CARRINGTON SMITH ERIC WILSON WALLACE THORNTON LANCE SOLOMON DOUGLAS WATSON LORNA NIMMO T. H. GREENHILL WILFRED PEISLEY .... ANNE WIENHOLT GUNNER T. JESSUP 22 28 27 27 24 24 Sculpture Figure Ptg. Figure Ptg. Figure Ptg. Landscape Figure Ptg. Landscape Figure Ptg. Landscape Figure Ptg. Landscape 2 years 2 years 2 years 3 ‘Years 1 year 3. years 1 year 3 years 1 year 3 years 1 year £250 £250 £250 £250 £250 £250 £250 £250 £250 £250 £250 United Kingdom United Kingdom United Kingdom and the Continent United Kingdom and the Continent United Kingdom Commonwealth of Australia Commonwealth of Australia Commonwealth of Australia Commonwealth of Australia United States of America Still in England; has not yet returned to Australia. Teaching and practising in Tasmania. Teaching privately and practising in Sydney. Practising in Sydney. Practising in Sydney. . At present with the A.I.F. as War Artist. Part-time teaching at East Sydney Technical College. ( Govt.) iy Practising in Sydney. Continuing studies at own expense in America: * At present studying on Scholarship in New York. May visit England and Europe after, Has not yet taken up Scholarship. — a

WINNERS OF GOVERNMENT AWARD