Evening star., 1935-05-20
ARTS FEDERATION
0PENSCONVENT|0N
Encouraging Future for Ar
tistic Projects Reported
by President.

r. A. Whiting, president OF the
American Federation Of Arts, opened
the twenty-sixth annual convention
of that organization this morning in
the ball room of the Mayflower Hotel
with more than 100 delegates from
all parts of the country in attend
ance.
In a review Of the past year, Mr..
Whiting stated that much of great
importance happened in the world
of art and that signs show an en-
couraging future. He cited, as out
standing facts, that "a new civic
museum is nearing completion in
Boise. Idaho; half million dollar
community arts center in Colorado
Springs has been begun; the new
art museum quarters in San Fran
cisco's great War Memorial opened,
and that announcement is made that
Mr.. Rockefeller will give $2.500,0O0
for a new Cloisters branch museum
in New York City"
These instances, Mr.. Whiting said,
indicate that even In these times of
slow recovery from depression, funds
are still available for artistic enter
prises, provided they can be presented
in so alluring manner as TO fire
the imagination of those who still
have funds for such purposes"
Governments Interest.
In the establishment of the Ma
tional Planning Board in Washington,
the president of the federation saw
an awakened governmental interest in
the arts. He said: If this board
can be continued and supported for a
sufficient time, influencing decisions
and plans for regional and local plan
ming boards and commissions, the
effect on the future of America can
be profound" He asked the delegates
to see that Congress is educated to
the significance of the broad interest
in park development, regional and
national planning, controlled Govern
ment building. and wise selection of
decorations for public buildings.
Proposal Of Congress to establish a
department of science, art and litera-
ture, with a secretary in the cabinet,
met with adverse favor in the presi-
dents report at this time because, as
Mr.. Whiting stated, lin my opinion,
the proposal is not widely conceived
and should not be indorsed in its pres
ent form. I fear bureaucracy in the
arts, especially If in the hands of the
politicians
Further legislation Of interest to the
Federation of Arts is a new copyright
law covering protection for creative
works OF all kinds. A committee from
the federation has been In consulta-
tion with officials Of the State Depart
ment, and members today expressed
the hope that America would eventu-
ally participate in the Union for the
Protection Of Literary and Artistic
Works"
1t was pointed out at the morning
session that $50 foundations are now
operating in America, with a COM
bined capital of nearly 81 200, 900 900
and an annual expenditure Of prob
ably $4,000. Music, it was said, is
the only art with q foundation. whose
income is devoted entirely to its ad-
vancement.
Radio Programs.
The past year witnessed a marked
development in the use of dramatic
presentation on radio programs, the
presidents report stated, citing that
music had already attained a leader
ship in this field Definite control of
radio advertising announcements was
advocated.
Rene d'Harmoncourt reported on
Art in America" sketching in detail
series of radio programs that had
been given Nationwide broadcast dur
ing the past year. The response to
these programs was tremendous, Mr..
d'Harmoncourt said. During the first
f1ve weeks OF the program more than
1000 letters were received.
Among the Washington delegates to
the convention are Mrs. Ralph Graves,
Miss Annie F. Abbott. the Arts Club;
R. M. Kaufman and c. Powell Min
nigerode. Corcoran Gallery of Art:
Mrs. Stephen Bonsal, Dumbarton
House Museum; DR.. Giles E. Dawson,
Folger Shakespeare Society; James L.
Well, Howard University, department
of art; DR.. Leiscester B. Holland, Lii
brary of Congress; Miss Elizabeth
Muhlhofer and Mrs. Margaret S.
zimele, Society of Washington Archi-
tects; Mrs. Susan B. Chase, Mrs.
Frances Hungerford Coombs and Mrs.
Zona Keplinger, Washington Water
Color Club; Duncan Phillips, director
OF the Phillips Memorial Gallery.