Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-22
'CORCORAN GALLERY
MERITS OUTLINED
Director Minnigerode, in Re-
port, Stresses Need OF Ex-
tension and Improvement.

Although a visit to the Corcoran
Gallery of Art is on the program of
nearly every visitor to Washington,
young and old alike, and although the
resulting impression is In most minds
we'll worth the effect, nevertheless off,
Gals of the institution itself feel that
there are various ways in which 1t
might increase its usefulness to the
community and to visitors. However,
with the situation in which the gallery
finds itself today, 1t is impossible to
carry out further plans for extension
or development, however ardently
desired
This point is particularly stressed in
the annual report of the director of the
gallery, C. Powell Minnigerode. for the
year ending May 81, 1880, which has
just been issued. 1t contains a frank
admission that certain possible criti-
cismS of its functioning are justifiable
and, at the same time, no remedy is at
present in sight.
Work Of Years Cited.
''The gallery has endeavored through
out its Sc years of existence to serve
the public in the fullest possible way
with such resources as were at it's COM
mand," states the report During this
time it has never solicited funds in any
way and has received its support solely
through its original endowment, door
receipts and subsequent voluntary gifts
by friends" It is an undoubted fact
that while the original endowment has
been wisely and fruitfully invested and
subsequent gifts have been generous
ones, yet on neither score has the inr
stitution been enabled to match with
corresponding service the growth of the
Capital.
A point emphasized by the director
is to the effect that, with modern
labor-saving appliances IN homes, shops.
factories and Offices now coming into
general use, an ever-increasing number
of persons are enjoying more leisure
than ever before, and one of the great
problems to be met is to provide means
whereby such spare time may be utilized
to best advantage. In the provision of
such means it Is felt that the Corcoran
Gallery and other institutions of its
type, should, If possible, increase their
sphere of influence by making art a real
and vital thing to the people.
Notable Benefits Possible.
Some of the particular ways in which
this old established gallery feels it could
of1er notable benefits are the corre-
lation, by means of an educational
worker, of the trips OF school children
through its exhibition rooms with their
outside studies; the establishment of
lectures on art; the maintenance
through concerts of close relation
ship between art and music, and, Dos
sfbly most important of ali, improve
ment and enlargement of the facilities
and quarters of the popular art school
which Is such an important component
part Of the institution More prizes and
more. scholarships for the benefit of
this school. tuition in which is purely
nominal, would be highly desirable, it
Is pointed out.
The trustees Of the Corcoran Gallery
are thoroughly and constantly aware
that these and other improvements and
extensions cannot be undertaken un-
less, through giftS-either beouests or
otherwise substantial additions NAV
be made to the endowment funds of the
gallery and its art school. I'VE are. y
they frankly admit, facing great op-
portunities of which we cannot take
advantage without financial assistance
and 1t is to be hoped that in the near
future other friends Of the gallery NAV
feel that they would like to have some
part In furthering the work which we
are trying to do"