P. M. No. 68/1965
The Prime Minister announced today that the Uommonwealth Government proposes to establish a National Art Gallery in Canberra.
As a first step, a Committee of Inquiry has been set up with the following terms of reference:-
" To report on the proposal for a National Art Gallery withi particular reference to the functions of such a gallery; and the method of control, the accommodation and the staff to carry out these functions."
The Prime Minister said that Sir Daryl. Lindsay, Chairman of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board would be Chairman of the Committee. The members would be the othe rmenbers of the present Art Advisory Board ( Mr. R. Campbell, O. B. E. of Adelaide, Mr. W. A. Dargie, O. B. E. of Melbourne, Mr, Russell Drysdale and Mr. Douglas Pratt, OBE both of Sydney) and four others Mr. H. Baston, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Professor J. Burke, OBE, Professor of Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne, Mr. Tristan Buesst of Melbourne and Mr. J. 0. Fairfax of Sydney.
Sir Robert Menzies said he was grateful to all these people for agreeing to assist the Government in this important task. They would have the assistance of senior representatives of the Prime Minister's Department and the National Capital Development Commission.
The Prime Minister went on to say that it was hoped that the Committee would begin its inquiry shortly, and complete it within about six months.
CANBERRA
10 September, 1965.