Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-24
Exhibitions
Offered for
Americans
Government Gives
Aid to Higher
Creative Idea
By Leila Mechiin.

Dy Lena w eCHtIU.
The President of the United
States has proclaimed a National
Art Week, to be observed by 1000
sales exhibitions of the works of
American artists and craftsmen in
as many communities throughout
the country, from November Is to
December /, the purpose of which
Is declared to be to bring American
art into every American home, of
which, it may be recalled, there are
said to be approximately 10000, 900.
To put this project into effect, an
elaborate organization has been set
I'D. First there is a National Coun-
Gil, of which, at the request of the
President, Francis H. Taylor, lately
elected director of the Metropolitan
Museum of New York. is chairman,
with Mrs. Roosevelt honorary chair
man. and a distinguished group OF
other persons outstanding in this
field. The duties of this council will
be purely advisory and honorary, the
responsibilities for organizing and
conducting the activities resting on
the shoulders of Holger Cahill, di-
rector of the Art Projects of the
Work Projects Administration, his
staff in this city and deputies in sew
eral States. Also there will be State,
municipal and community commit
tees. many of which have already
been appointed and are. at work.
In his letter to Mr.. Taylor, inviting
him to serve as chairman OF the Ma
tional Council, President Roosevelt
said:
Il have been gratifled to observe
the rapidly developing interest in
American art in recent years, de-
velopment in which the Government
art programs have played an i'm
portant part.
"Yet in spite of an ever-increas-
ing interest in art in our country,
the majority OF our artists and
skilled craftsmen are still engaged
in what must be called marginal
occupation. 1t is evident that we
must find ways of translating our
interest in American creative express
sion into active popular support ex-
pressed in terms of purchase"
Endorses Statement.
In his letter of acceptance Mr..
Taylor strongly Endorsed the Presi-
dents statement by saying:
1.-The need for such a step as you
have taken will be apparent to every
one who has at heart the best in
terests of the American artist.
While the Government has met so
splendidly the emergency of the past
few years, through the various Fed
eral Art Projects, such subventlon
will not take the place. in the long
run, of the normal market to which
every creative artist and craftsman
Is entitled. For without a market
the artist cannot exist as normal,
productive member of society" To
which he added:
Those persons who, like myself,
have had the privilege Of being init
mately associated with the Govern
ment Arts Projects since their in
ception in 1888, realize, only too well,
the economic barriers which have
been so discouraging to creative
effort in this country. We believe
that the emergency is not yet past,
and may remain with us for many
years to come. While we appreciate
the immense good that is being &C
conplished, and must continue to be
accomplished, by the art agencies OF
the Government, no solid patronage
of art can be established until the
people at large accept works OF art
on the same basis as ordinary COM
modities.
All of TINS strikes very different
note from that struck by Edward
Bruce. head of the section OF hne
arts, formerly under the Treasury
&Cpol LIlcIlG, llUW OpCi doAAio
the Public Buildings Adn1nistra-
ton of the Federal Works Agency
when, in 1885, the section was
formed and the first copy OF It's
bulletin issued. Looking at the
question of Government patronage
OF art from the economic stand
point, he then remarked that,
through economic necessity, it had,
he believed, become q special duty
of the Government to interest It
self in such matters, because the
Government had been obliged to
withdraw, to a large extent, those
means which made private patron
age possible.
Supporting this statement he
further said: "Of necessity private
expenditure on art and cultural
things must come out of surplus
and history proves that the great
patrons of art have been those who
are possessors of surplus wealth
which they can use for such pur-
poses. A very large per cent of
the surplus income of this country.
which prior to 1918 was available