The Auckland Society of Arts was a community organisation that brought together over 2000 local and national artists in Auckland, New Zealand between 1870 and 1984. It was the first community art society in New Zealand and one of the first within Australasia. The group was originally known as the Society of Artists, Auckland, and exhibiting artists produced work for their annual exhibitions that begun in 1881. The average year saw them producing 14 exhibitions total, four as a group, eight solo, and two with unique themes. The society was officially wound up in 2004.
History The criteria for what the Auckland Society of Arts wished to exhibit included various disciplines within "fine and applied art." These details were clearly outlined in their early meeting on 31st August, 1880.
For their 31st annual exhibition in 1912, records show the gallery located in Coburg Street. The building had been designed and proposed with the involvement of Messrs Goldsbro and Wade (architects) and Mr J J Holland (builder) by at least 1905, with the proposed cost at the time being £2500. Mr Mackechnie, art enthusiast and heavily associated with the society's founding, left £2500 for the purpose of a maintaining the function of the gallery in his will. Subsequently, through a mixture of members' fees and governmental assistance the council paid £900 in land fees. Their exhibitions later took place at 4 Eden Crescent, Auckland with solo exhibitions taking place at the Eden Terrace galleries. The building itself was made from kauri in 1898 on the original grounds of 'Bishop Selwyn's School and Home for Ministers' and consisted of two storeys with 600 ft of exhibition areas.
The first meeting of the society consisted of only sixteen people in Mr. Henry Partington's office in Queen Street, Auckland, with soon to be members like Mr James Barber and William Eastwood both present. As a result of this meeting, all in attendance became the first official members of the society, and seven formed the committee. Together they worked towards their first exhibition in March 1871. As a result of a meeting on 31st August, 1880, the society introduced their new title as the Auckland Society of Arts, and members were designated as either "working" or "honorary."
By 1951 the society had started exhibiting annually as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Later in 1952 this was housed and presented by Auckland Art Gallery as part of the same festival.
First committee Chairman – James Baber Secretary – John Symons Members – Edward Bartley, William Eastwood, I. S. Hall, Thomas Warner, Frederick William Wright
Membership process As the national currency and economic status of New Zealand changed over time the society's membership process remained relatively consistent in principle. An example of this is the annual subscription for members from 1959 which included the following fees and privileges:
Fee for Honorary membership: Two guineas
Fee for Working Members: One and one half guinea
'Membership privileges were listed as:
Exhibition Galleries and Club Rooms near city centre Library of latest art journals and books Picture hire service Private view invitations to exhibitions Lecture and film evenings and popular luncheon talks Art Studio facilities For working members - an opportunity to exhibit work For honorary members, participation in an Art Union to the extent of 10/ - on a full year's subscription.'
Society spaces and events The following spaces and events were included in the society's membership brochure potentially dating to the 1960s.
The society offered two exhibition spaces for artists to use that were monitored by the receptionist during opening hours. Work in galleries could be viewed daily by the public of Auckland. Exhibition opening events were also offered due to the addition of a kitchen. The studio space for artists with memberships was located in the basement and was complete with an etching press, different storage methods like lockers, and toilets.
Multiple lectures on various art historical or art topics took place. Members could attend lots of group events with some of these being centred around film. More regular group gatherings included "life groups" and a group who painted landscapes together resulting in an exhibition and a "one week summer painting holiday" elsewhere.
The clubroom was advertised as one of collaboration in close proximity to Auckland's city centre. Artists and customers could converse with one another. The space was inclusive with light refreshments and a library of art books and zines to browse. The picture library involved a loaning system controlled by a monthly cost which allowed the public to borrow works for personal use. Customers could then buy the work they loaned if they wished to.
The society held Arts balls periodically where members could gather and socialise. For example, the Peter Pan cabaret ball occurred on the 20th June 1951 at Lewis Easy Ltd on behalf of Dr and Mrs Gilbert Archey. The grand parade took place at 9:30pm. Tickets were £1.10 per person and monetary prizes were given for the following dress categories: Lady's costume (ten guineas), Gentleman's costume (ten guineas), Most original costume (ten guineas), Best couple (seven guineas), Best group (twelve guineas). The ball committee at the time consisted of Mrs Pascoe Redwood, Mrs L. Henderson, Mrs A. J. C. Fisher, Mrs C. Tucker, Mrs H. Parkinson, Mrs E. B. Readman, Mrs T. Bond, Miss Margaret Lumsden, "Marina", Phil Shone, Don Lever, Barton Gillespie. Alongside the committee James Turkington and Ron Stenberg assisted in the organisation of the event.
Committee politics On 6 September 1880 a comment on the first committee of the society was made in the New Zealand Herald by an anonymous reviewer. From their perspective issues with management and communication to members occurred before the first committee's resignation, as well as an alleged focus on economic gain as opposed to building community. Later that month the new working committee held their second meeting where the general rules were conversed over and established. The location for the public general meetings also changed from the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms to the Museum lecture room on Princes Street.
Another perspective suggested that the previous committee ran the Society of Artists as an exclusive society for just art, and the new society aimed to be inclusive of high art as well as more everyday art and craft forms. The society, with Mr. Neil Heath as their honorary secretary, welcomed assistance and support for this approach from wealthy households and businessmen. They received help from the Bishop, Sir G. M. O'Rorke, Judge Fenton, R. C. Barstow, the Mayor, Messrs J. M. Clark, E. K. Tyler, J. M. Dargaville, G. P. Pierce, and G. Aickin.
At their 4 October 1880 general meeting the foundations of the new society were concretised, including the official revised name, The Auckland Society of Arts. The annual rotation of president, vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, and ten collective members was enacted through voting. The committee agreed on an inclusive and supportive aim for the society, and that members could be in honorary and pay an annual subscription of ten shillings and six dimes which gave free admission to the annual exhibitions, a share in the art union and have the ability to vote in the committee elections. Additionally members could be classified as working members and they were required to make one original artwork for showing per year and pay a yearly fee (for ladies five shillings, and for men ten shilling and six dimes).
The exhibiting artists were to participate in the annual exhibitions and this opportunity was also extended to artists living outside of Auckland who wished to put work forward for submission. Artists would benefit from the art union at each exhibition managing purchases of work as honorary members would receive a share of the profit of their work valued at their yearly fees minus five percent. Furthermore, if artists were to win prizes for their works they were obligated to spend their monetary winnings on future exhibitions or risked losing their funds.
20th century Political disagreements were continuous throughout the society's time and they were affected by changing government decisions which either financially supported the arts or did not. In 1954, by decision of the president of the society at the time, Mr Pascoe Redwood, the council protested to the Minister of Internal Affairs because of how the term "art union" was being used. They were upset by the phrase being coined as the same as a lottery, when they wanted art unions to remain distinct opportunities for artists to grow their careers by having the choice to submit works of art as prizes for lotteries.
Additionally in 1954 the council fought against the Post and Telegraph Department's process of choosing New Zealand stamp designs that discredited local artists. The group banded together to propose that artists be given commissioned opportunities to design the stamps. This argument faced slight disagreement from Wellington artist, Mr E. Mervyn Taylor, who stated that entries to stamp design competitions had decreased due to artists not finding the risk nor reward worthwhile. Pascoe Redwood reinforced that stamps were an international icon representing New Zealand art and therefore the matter should be considered.
Second committee President – John Logan Campbell Vice-presidents – William Cowie (Bishop of Auckland), Maurice O'Rorke, Francis Dart Fenton, Arthur Purchas, Edward King Tyler, James Clark, George Patrick Pierce, Josiah Firth, Robert Barstow, Thomas Buddle, Joseph Dargaville, Frederick Whitaker Members – Kate Clark, Mrs B. Ireland, Miss Carpenter, Miss Horne, Samuel Edger, Josiah Martin, Charles Blomfield, Messrs Watkin, Sharpe, Trevithick Treasurer – Albin Martin Honorary secretary – Mr N. Heath
The new committee's first exhibition took place at Choral Hall, showcasing eighty to ninety paintings of New Zealand landscapes and global castles, eighty youth watercolour pieces, and various sketches, lace designs, baskets, wax figurines, and clay models. The event was opened on 6th April 1881 at one shilling per individual entry, the offer of two shillings and six dimes for the four days and nights that it was open, or a family of three deal for five shillings. It opened between the hours of 9am and 9pm each day, and officially closed on 11th April 1881.
Recognised by the New Zealand Herald at the time, a Mr Firth was named an excellent original artist for his contributions. The exhibition was also an opportunity for eighty other works to be put on display for purchase as permitted by their owners. Many well-known international sights captured in photos and print were shown in the space, including a photo from the Ghiberti Gates in Florence, and an Albert Durer print of Melencolia. The New Zealand Herald reported the loan collection totalling eighty-three pictures, ninety-two watercolours, sixty-four oils, three illuminations, and thirty-seven pencil and crayon sketches.
By the exhibition's conclusion the sales of local artists' works totalled to 209 pounds. The New Zealand Herald reported a demand for oil paintings, Teutenberg's Nautilus shells and wax flowers. News of the exhibition's success reached the South Island and Australia. Dr. J. L. Campbell was voted in as president for the 1881-82 year with a society of almost 200 members.
Annual reports