ART SOCIETIES

The art societies have played a vital part in fostering art in New Zealand. They are self-supporting institutions drawing income mainly from membership subscriptions, subcribing members usually paying approximately twice as much as artist members, who are elected on attaining a required standard. At least one exhibition of local and other New Zealand art is held annually, sales being encouraged by art unions.

Where the art society owns its own gallery, a programme of one-man shows and loan exhibitions is normally undertaken, and lectures, demonstrations, and criticism are conducted. Only in the larger societies is there any paid staff and this is usually confined to secretarial service, frequently part time. All other activities are undertaken by voluntary helpers. An elected president, secretary, treasurer, and council of from 10 to 12 members constitute the typical administrative body.

The following societies are members of the Association:

• Northland Society of Arts.

• North Shore Society of Potters.

• Auckland Society of Arts.

• Waikato Society of Arts Inc.

• Matamata Art Society.

• Tauranga Society of Arts.

• Rotorua Society of Arts.

• Gisborne Art Society.

• North Taranaki Arts Society.

• Stratford Art Society.

• Hawera Art Club.

• New Zealand Art Teachers' Association.

• Architectural Centre.

• Hutt Art Society.

• Wellington Potters Assn. Inc.

• New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.

• Wellington Art Club.

• New Zealand Institute of Architects.

• Nelson Suter Art Society.

• Marlborough Art Society.

• Canterbury Society of Arts.

• South Canterbury Art Society.

The Association of New Zealand Art Societies was formed in 1930 to help the societies to coordinate their activities and to cooperate on all matters of common interest. In spite of these worthy aims, it was not easy to formulate a policy that would ensure coordination for the member societies without interference. One scheme in particular caused trouble in the early years of the Association. A group of paintings representative of New Zealand art generally, was sent on rotation to the exhibitions of the member societies. The idea was excellent but an unfortunate stipulation that all the works in the “rota” must be hung, deprived the Societies of the right to select their own exhibitions. This led to the withdrawal of the New Zealand Academy and other art societies. The rota scheme was eventually abandoned and the constitution has been modified from time to time to remove objectionable features and to ensure the smooth running of the Association. The Association has maintained a lively interest in all aspects of art in New Zealand, and is probably more firmly established today than ever before.

It would be difficult to find in New Zealand any city or township without an art society or art club, a sketch club, or an art group of some kind. It would be impossible to list them all, and the following notes refer to the more important or to typical art societies.

New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts

The Wellington Art Society, known as the Academy of Fine Arts, had its beginnings in 1882 when the Fine Arts Society of New Zealand was formed. In 1889 the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts was founded, having taken over the property and effects of the Fine Arts Society. In 1892 the Government provided a site in Whitmore Street, Wellington, and members of the academy and the public subscribed to the cost of building a gallery in which the academy could carry out its functions, which included the teaching of art. The Whitmore Street gallery was opened as a free public gallery in 1907 and continued as such until 1936, when, having donated its building, funds, and art collection to the newly established National Art Gallery, the academy was granted permanent accommodation within the new building. The academy conducts two major exhibitions of New Zealand art in the spring and autumn of each year and has staged craft exhibitions from time to time. A series of retrospective exhibitions honouring distinguished New Zealand artists has been arranged and financed by the academy.

The Governor-General is the traditional patron of the New Zealand Academy, the elected officers being the president, two vice-presidents, eight council members, hon. treasurer, and hon. auditor. The paid secretary is also secretary to the National Gallery Management Committee. In membership and sales at exhibitions (an average of over £3,000 annually over the past 10 years) the academy exceeds all other New Zealand Art Societies.

Auckland Society of Arts

The Auckland Society of Arts occupies a two-storey building at 4 Eden Crescent, which provides roughly 600 running feet of exhibition space in its several galleries. There is a spacious members' lounge, library, and artists' studios. The building itself is interesting, having been built in kauri in 1898 on the site of Bishop Selwyn's School and Home for Ministers. The history of the society goes back to 1869 when a group of people formed themselves into the Auckland Society of Artists. The title, The Auckland Society of Arts, dates from 1880.

The society is administered by a president and an administrative council of 12, the staff consisting of a secretary-treasurer. About 14 exhibitions are staged each year, four regular society exhibitions, eight one-member exhibitions, and two special exhibitions. Average sales on behalf of artists amount to £1,500. The society maintains a permanent collection.

Canterbury Society of Arts

Founded in 1880, the Canterbury Society of Arts has its own gallery and offices in Armagh and Durham Streets. The society maintains an active programme, and the spacious gallery is used not only for the society's regular exhibitions but also for group shows, retrospective exhibitions, for loan collections, and other projects organised by the Council. The presence of the Canterbury University School of Art ensures a lively contribution from younger artists, while the recognised status of the society attracts important contributions from other centres.

When the Robert McDougall Gallery was established in 1932, the Canterbury Society handed over its Art collection to the gallery and has continued to make gifts. The Governor-General is the traditional patron of the society, the officers being a president, five vice-presidents, eight council members, honorary treasurer and auditor, and a secretary to whom much of the routine administration is entrusted.

Otago Art Society

The Otago Art Society leases convenient gallery accommodation in Princes Street in the heart of the main shopping area. 1876 is given as the foundation date but art exhibitions on an ambitious scale were organised in Dunedin from the sixties. The early history of the society is closely linked with that of the Public Art Gallery Society. In 1922 the two bodies were amalgamated, but since 1930 they have remained completely independent. The history is interestingly unfolded by H. V. Miller in A Century of Art in Otago.

There are three categories of members, artist members, honorary members, and associate members (mostly art students under 21). The annual exhibition caters for works by members and artist members of kindred societies, the Spring Exhibition is for members only and emphasises craft and graphic art. The Annual Festival Exhibition combines members' work with some appropriate special feature.

Hawke's Bay and East Coast Art Society

In 1933 the Hawke's Bay Art Society, founded in 1924, with 60 members and £124 in the bank (all else had gone in the 1931 earthquake) formed the ambitious plan of founding an art gallery and museum. The present institution is a monument to the driving force and untiring efforts of the late L. D. Bestall, M.B.E. By 1936 a lease had been secured and the art gallery built and opened to the public. In 1938 the centre block was added, and in 1955 the museum wing, with children's museum and Education Department's arts and crafts centre. In 1959, the Holt Gallery was added. Activities include artists' and studio potters' groups, chamber music concerts, and lunchtime recorded music. Besides an annual exhibition and annual open air exhibitions in Hastings as well as in Napier, there are regular special and loan exhibitions. The society receives regular grants from the Napier City Council and from local bodies in the province. These and membership subscriptions provide the main finance. The Napier City Council, the Hastings City Council, and the Hawke's Bay County Council are represented on the council of the society.

The permanent collection includes paintings by New Zealand and overseas artists, pottery, porcelain, and a variety of museum categories.

Gisborne Art Society

Founded in 1948 as a branch of the Hawke's Bay and East Coast Art Society, the Gisborne Art Society became an independent body in 1954. Kelvin Rise, a spacious old homestead, was acquired on very favourable terms, and subsequent donations from the Maori community and others financed the remodelling of the building to provide for an art gallery, museum, Maori wing, and custodian's flat. The society presented the gallery and museum to the City of Gisborne, maintenance costs being shared by the City Council and the Art Society. The society stages at least three exhibitions annually, two by local artists and one by Poverty Bay school children, as well as a series of loan exhibitions.

Members' subscriptions provide the main finance and there is a small permanent collection displayed whenever the gallery is free.

Nelson Suter Art Society

The Bishopdale Sketching Club, formed in 1889 by Bishop Suter, became known in 1901 as the Suter Art Society. The Bishop Suter Art Gallery is made available for the society exhibitions and other activities are held elsewhere in the city. There are at least two exhibitions a year when works by local and other New Zealand artists are on sale. The society has no permanent collection but purchases works from time to time for presentation to the Bishop Suter Gallery.

The Wanganui Arts and Crafts Society

The Wanganui Society had its beginnings in 1901 and became a corporate body in 1919. One annual exhibition of New Zealand art is held in the autumn of each year in the Sarjeant Art Gallery. An active sketch group meets regularly in the art room of the Wanganui Technical College, and the emphasis generally is on the practice of art and craft. Loan exhibitions are organised by the Sarjeant Gallery. The society has no permanent accommodation and no art collection, though works are purchased from time to time for presentation to the art gallery. The first issue of a lively newsletter was published in 1962.

Tauranga Art Society

Founded in 1946 and incorporated in 1948, the Tauranga Art Society has as yet no permanent premises but stages exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations, and film evenings in a public hall. Subscriptions from members provide the main income. The society is self-supporting and has acquired the nucleus of a permanent art collection. There are a president, three vice-presidents, a committee of eight, and an honorary secretary and treasurer.

Lack of a gallery and club rooms is a drawback and the society hopes that the borough council may make provision for such amenities in its civic planning.