Wieneke Archive Book 2 : Queensland National Art Gallery (Director: James Wieneke) 1950-51 Presscuttings

inn E R ART GALLERY' Aim for new city society A SPECIAL society to improve Queens - land's National Art Gallery will be launched in Brisbane soon. This was announced by the Gallery Director (Mr. R. Haines) at a Brisbane Rotary luncheon yesterday. X ai 0 Mr. Haines said the society would be named the National Gallery Society. It would be for all people interested in the arts, in their own gallery, and in education in Queensland. Membership fees probably would be : Life, 25 guineas; or- dinary, one guinea; junior, 10/; art and other students, 6/. Build for future "The society will organise lectures in art, musical even- ings, and special meetings in the gallery," Mr. Haines said. "Through this we may be able to build something that will be a future memorial to Queens- land. "I think it Is up to Queens- landere to build worthily for the future." Mr. Haines said a gallery should cultivate the taste of the public net only in paint- ings but also in all branches of the arts. "Appreciation of the design of things we drink and eat from is as important as the love of great paintings," he said. Collection faulty criticising tile guliery, Mr. sub toe cuilection was gooa. 1t concentrated oil popuiar Royal Acauenly works, wn.rtiout any comprehensive showu4 of Australian art de- velopment. Queensland must have a good Australian coiiec- 14011 and build up contempor- ary works. "The uallery itself looks like a giraffe !louse. it can ye only temporary, although a wonder- ful job has been done In re- modelling it," he continued. "The ideal building for the National Gallery is the aid George Street Govern lent House, the best piece of archi- tecture in Brisbane." SIO./.. Aid for culture THE mar director of Queensland's National Art Gallery (Mr. R. Haines) is vigorously pursuing the purpose of it; former director, Mr. Campbell. He desires to make the gallery a centre of cultural appreciation that will radiate its influence throughout the' city and the State. Mr. Haines's aim is a gallery that will cultivate the taste of the public not only in paintings but also in all branches of the arts. There is the example of Melbourne's art gallery, which shows the public domestic furniture of many periods and rich collections of pottery and china. If Queensland's capital is ever to have such an art gallery a better building than the former Exhibition Hall at Bowen Bridge will have to be found for it. And it will have to be nearer the city. Mr. Haines has his eyes on Bris- bane's old Government House, which became the first home of the University and is still serving it. It is certain that there will be much competition for the re- version of this building when- ever and if ever the University vacates it. A location so close to the city's central park would be ideal for a National Art Gallery. But Queensland's cultural life lacks other things besides a better place for showing works of art, and these must be considered. The State Public Library has been waiting long for more spacious accommoda- tion. COURIER -MAIL, WED., JULY 4. 1951. Many cultural activities are handicapped by want of halls for meetings or for concerts and dramatic performances. There is only the Albert Hall for audiences smaller than Would justify hiring the City Hall. A project for a cultural centre combining a new art gallery, a new public library, a small theatre for the use of repertory societies and cham- ber concert", and rooms that could be let to other cultural bodies was receiving the Gov- ernment's attention 15 years ago. This may nct seem an ap. propriate time to revive it, when the State's building re- sources cannot yet meet the needs of housing, but it might be considered as an objective. People in the smaller towns of Queensland may think that what is spent in the State's capital for advancement of culture serves only Brisbane's citizens. But the tour of the Art train has shown a way of enabling them to share without having to come to the capital. A larger State Art collection could offer other towns loan exhibitions of some of its pictures and other possessions. A better equipped State public library could extend its in- formation and reference ser- vices beyond the metropolis,