Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

This story could equally be told of other artists. The message it conveys is clear. Not only is the art of the past beyond the reach of most galleries today, but so also is much of the art of the present. It means that those concerned with the buying of works of art now and in the future will need to have very sensitive antennae indeed. It means looking hard _at our collections 'downstairs' to see how much can be brought 'upstairs'. Finally, it means encouraging sponsorship, both by corporations and by individuals. We already rely heavily on the generosity of some outstanding donors, of whom Lady Trout and the late Sir Leon Trout are pre-eminent. Only last week, at my first Trustees meeting, we were given a splendid John Peter Russell work from their collection, which we could not have afforded to buy. Indeed, we already have much for which to be thankful, especially if we think of this arts complex as one unit. When I was wondering what I would say this evening, I remembered Goethe's advice for Wilhelm Meister in the year of his apprenticeship. 'One ought', he wrote, 'every day at least, to hear a little song, to read a good poem, to see a fine picture and, if possible, to speak a few reasonable words'. When the State Library is finished we shall be able to achieve the first three of these exhortations within walking distance of where we are at this moment. The last, of course, is rather more difficult. I have said enough, perhaps too much, because I know you must all be longing to see the rest of the exhibition and to hear something about it beforehand. That you will now hear from the Minister. He is, as I have said, Minister for Mines and Energy as well as Minister for the Arts. While the arts are important from the point of view of our quality of life, mines are vital from the point of view of our standard of living. It says much for his interest in the arts that he is prepared to devote so much time to his 'quality of life' portfolio and for that we should all be most grateful. Wearing his 'standard of living' hat, he was in Japan recently and I was interested to read a suggestion by an arts journalist that he should sometimes wear both hats at the same time and squeeze some money for the arts out of the rich miners. I support the suggestion and hope he succeeds in doing so. I look forward to a close and co-operative relationship between the Minister and the Gallery, and also to a personal one as well. The press has been at pains to point out that he and I are not related. But even if I cannot say, 'Yes, Cousin', no matter; it will surely be more fun to say, 'Yes Minister'. And now I have great pleasure in asking the Hon. Brian Austin, Minister for the Arts, to address you and open the exhibition. 15