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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 25, No. 9. 1962.

New Arts Group

New Arts Group

At the inaugural meeting of the Contemporary Arts Group approximately 120 enthusiasts attended. A mass of Ideas, both practical and impractical, resulted. The Contemporary Ails Group does not exist for the sole benefit of students. This was hammered.

It appeared that in forming (his group the University Is providing a haven for the frustrated, unwanted, but not necessarily unknown writers and artists of the Capital City. Convener O'Leary stressed that participants from both outside and inside the University were necessary for the success of the Group. The meeting faltered for a time while at least one citizen, a prominent person age in Wellington drama circles, and several students were reassured on this point.

Collars got warm again when suggestions for a short term programme were requested. It became evident that the meeting was split into two broad factions. One headed by the tenderfoot student who wished to use the Group as a prop for his first stumblings along the road of art; the other by the more experienced performer who had no qualms about of-along the road of art; the other After prolonged argument, honours were about even.

It was decided to hold weekly workshops on all aspects of art under the guidance of Tim Elliot, Peter Varley, and Peter Bland. They signified their own, as well as other artists' willingness to act in this capacity.

More Discussion

Once again the meeting was bogged down by long discussion on what the more positive programme of the Group should be. Encouraged by the more practical people present "to get on with it," it was decided to hold another meeting in three weeks time at which Eric Schwimmer would lecture on the Rumanian playwright, Ionesco.

A festival of New Zealand poetry is planned for the near future. Poets themselves are to be invited to read their own works. Other arts will be catered for at this festival: a jazz backing for some poems .and an exhibition of paintings has been mooted. A one act play by Albert Wentd will be put on before the August break, with a possibility that it be entered in the drama section of the '62 Arts Festival.

An interim committee was formed to deal with the drafting of a constitution. The meeting was eventually adjourned, and informal discussion followed.

M. Behrens