NOTES FOR THE PRIME INIISTER
FOR THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION.*
MODERN MASTERS: MANET TO MATISSE.
AT THE ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES.-
SYDNEY,. 9 APRIL 1975
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ART EXHIBITION
EVER TO COME To AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIANS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
TRAVEL HAVE PERHAPSSEEN SOME OF THE WORKS, OR THEIR LIKE,. IN THE
GREAT GALLERIES OF NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE; OTHERS MAY HAVE
SEEN THEM REPRODUCED IN ART BOOKS; BUT THIS IS THE FIRST
OPPORTUNITY THAT THE LARGE PROPORTION OF AUSTRALIANS HAS HAD
TO ENJOY AND SAVOUR THE REAL THING,
CEZANNE. BONNARD,, BRAQUE,. DALI. DUBUFFET.
GAUGUIN,. VAN GOGH,. KLEE AND OTHERS VIE WITH EACH OTHER FOR
PRIDE OF PLACE; AND MANET. MATISSE,. MODIGLIANI. MUNCH,. PICASSO
AND MANY OTHERS VIRTUALLY STUMBLE OVER EACH OTHER TO CLAIM OUR
ATTENTIONt IT WOULD BE AN INVIDIOUS TASK TO TRY TO SINGLE OUT
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS OR WORKS FOR SPECIAL COMMENT ALL HAVE THEIR
IMPORTANCE AND WE MUST BE THANKFUL TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
EXHIBITION FOR BRINGING THIS VISUAL FEAST TO OUR COUNTRY. m e1 / 2
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THERE ARE, I BELIEVE, MORE THAN 100 WORKS IN THE
EXHIBITION REPRESENTING THE FINEST IN EUROPEAN ART OVER THE LAST
HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY AND THE FIRST HALF OF THE 2OTH CENTURY.
THE ROLE OF THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK, IN PUTTING THE
EXHIBITION TOGETHER HAS BEEN CRUCIAL, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE MUSEUM HAS
BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING SIGNIFICANT ART EXHIBITIONS TO
AUSTRALIA. OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS 3 EXHIBITIONS HAVE TOURED
AUSTRALIAN GALLERIES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MUSEUM' S
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM.
TO THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART AND OTHER GALLERIES AND
THE PRIVATE COLLECTORS WHO LOANED WORKS FOR THIS EXHIBITIONI
EXTEND THE THANKS OF THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE, AND I TRUST THAT
THESE VALUABLE WORKS SO GENEROUSLY MADE AVAILABLE MAY NOT
SUFFER FOR BEING HUNG UPSIDE DOWN IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
ART TODAY IS VERY MUCH AN INTERNATIONAL -OR SHOULD
ISAY A MULTINATIONAL VENTURE. GREAT EXHIBITIONS ARE OFTEN
SPONSORED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS. THE ALCOA
FOUNDATION HAS GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED $ 150,000 TO THIS
EXHIBITION, AND I SOMETIMES WONDER WHERE MODERN ART WOULD BE
WITHOUT BEER CANS AND TOBACCO. .1s.@ 3
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THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS, OF COURSE, PLAYING ITS
PART, AS IT QUITE RIGHTLY SHOULD. FIRST, IT HAS INDEMNIFIED THE
OWNERS OF THE WORKS COMPRISING TH4E EXHIBITION AGAINST LOSS OR
DAMAGE TO A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $ US 70 MILLION. WITHOUT THIS
SUPPORT THE EXHIBITION WOULD VERY LIKELY HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE
BECAUSE OF THE PROHIBITIVE COSTS OF NORMAL INSURANCE COVER.
I SHOULD ADD THAT THE TREASURER WHO IS UNABLE TO BE WITH US
TONIGHT HAS ASKED ME TO STRESS HIS KEEN INTEREST IN THE SAFETY
OF THE EXHIBITION. SECONDLY, AN IMPORTANT AND CONTINUING ROLE IS
BEING PLAYED BY THE VISUAL ARTS BOARD OF THE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL.
WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS IS MEETING THE TRANSPORT COSTS OF
THE EXHIBITION. THERE IS STILL A LINGERING PREJUDICE AGAINST MODERN
ART IN ALL SOCIETIES. EXHIBITIONS OF GREAT ART WORKS WILL HELP
TO DISPEL THIS; AND IT IS THROUGH REFERENCE TO THE WORKS OF
THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF MODERN PAINTING THAT WE SHALL COME TO
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ART AROUND US TODAY.
WHEN THE AUSTRALIAN NlATIONAL GALLERY BOUGHT JACKSON
POLLOCK'S BLUJE POLES IN 1973 THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE CRITICISM FROM
PEOPLE WHO KNEW LITTLE ABOUT MODERN PAINTING AND WANTED TO KNOW
EVEN LESS. I REGRET THAT SECTIONS ' OF THE MEDIA DID THEIR
BEST TO PROVOKE PHILISTINE REACTIONS TO THE PURCHASE, THERE IS
A CERTAIN IRONY, THEREFORE, THAT IT WAS A NEWSPAPER, THE MELBOURNE
" HERALD", THAT IN 1939 SPONSORED AN EXHIBITION OF 215 WORKS BY
MANY OF THE ARTISTS REPRESENTED HERE THIS EVENING. iI . iA
IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MAJOR EXHIBITIONS OF MODERN
ART IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THERE WERE FURIOUS REACTIONS WHEREVER
IT WAS SHOWN, SUCH ATTITUDES PERSIST, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE NOW
HAVE A BETTER PERSPECTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLACE OF MODERN
ART IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CULTURE,
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS MAKING EARNEST EFFORTS TO
PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE OF THE ARTS TOWARDS IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY, OUR PRINCIPAL AGENCY IS
THE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL, WHICH ' ASSISTS, THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
OF ART AND IS CURRENTLY SPONSORING ( WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS) AN EXHIBITION IN EUROPE OF THE WORKS OF TEN AUSTRALIAN
PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS, THE VISUAL ARTS BOARD OF THE COUNCIL
HAS CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO BRINGING THIS AND OTHER EXHIBITIONS
TO AUSTRALIA, IT MAKES GRANTS DIRECTLY TO ARTISTS; IT MAKES
SUBSIDIES TO BODIES FOR COMMISSIONING WORKS TO BE DISPLAYED IN
PUBLIC; IT MAKES SUBSIDIES TO PUBLIC GALLERIES FOR PURCHASING
AUSTRALIAN WORKS, AND GRANTS TO HELP ESTABLISH ARTISTS' WORKSHOPS
AND PUBLIC GALLERIES AND ASSIST ART SOCIETIES AND GROUPS, THE
BOARD'S BUDGET FOR 1974/ 75 EXCEEDS $ 1 MILLION, THIS IS PART
OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET FOR THE ARTS OF $ 20 MILLION THIS FINANCIAL
YEAR,
IN CANBERRA WE ARE BUILDING A NATIONAL GALLERY
THE ROLE OF WHICH WILL BE TO COMPLEMENT THE WORK OF THE AUSTRALIA
COUNCIL AND OTHER ENTERPRISES, THROUGH PROVIDING FOR ALL TO
ENJOY EXAMPLES OF THE BEST WORKS OF ART AVAILABLE FROM DIFFERENT
PERIODS AND DIFFERENT CULTURES HERE AND ABROAD. THE EMPHASIS
ALWAYS IS ON QUALITY. AUSTRALIA IS BY NO MEANS WITHOUT DISTINCTION IN
INTERNATIONAL ART. IRECALL MY PLEASURE 18 MONTHS AGO WHENI
HEARDOF JOHN ARMSTRONG'S IMPORTANT PRIZE AT THE BIENNALE IN SAO
PAULO. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, I OPENED
THE FIRST BIENNALE OF SYDNEY -AN EVENT WHICH I HOPE WILL COME
TO RANK AMONG THE BEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.
EXHIBITIONS SUCH AS THIS HELP OUR OWN ARTISTS AND
GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPARE THEIR WORK WITH THAT OF
THE GREAT ARTISTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND OTHER PERIODS. THE
COMMUNITY OF SPIRIT, THE HUMANITY COMMON TO ALL ARTISTIC
CREATION, MAY BE FELT AND SHARED DIRECTLY. THE RESULT IS
AN ENRICHMENT OF OUR ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE AND HOPEFULLY A
STIMULATION OF THE ENERGIES AND PERCEPTIONS OF OUR ARTISTS.
IN THE LAST 2L1 HOURS I HAVE RECEIVED REPRESENTATIONS
FROM MANY DISTINGUISHED AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS, WRITERS AND OTHERS
SEEKING TO REMOVE GIFTS OF WORKS OF ART FROM THE PROVISIONS
OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS. I CAN WELL UNDERSTAND THAT MANY GREAT
PUBLIC ART COLLECTIONS HAVE DEPENDED ON PRIVATE BENEFACTORS.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS QUESTION WILL RECEIVE THE EARNEST
CONSIDERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING I CAN
PRONOUNCE UPON AT A MOMENT'IS NOTICE. I BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT
A GOVERNMENT WORKING TO BUILD UP THE FOUNDATIONS OF A GREAT
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NATIONAL COLLECTION MUST LOOK AT WAYS OF ENCOURAGING GIFTS
FROM * PRIVATE OWNERS. I WISH THE EXHIBITION EVERY SUCCESS. IAM HONOURED
TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO OPEN IT. IT WILL BE SHOWN IN SYDNEY
AND MIELBOURNE, AND SPECIAL GRANTS WILL BE MADE BY THE VISUAL
ARTS BOARD TO ENABLE STUDENTS FROM OTHER CITIES AND STATES TO
TRAVEL TO SYDNEY OR M'ELBOURNE TO SEE IT. I PAY TRIBUTE TO THE
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART; TO WILLIAM
LEIBERMAN, WHO SELECTED THE EXHIBITION AND IS LOOKING AFTER IT IN
AUSTRALIA; TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM OF fM'ODERN ART, MiR
OLDENBURG, AND HIS STAFF; TO THE GALLERIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAVE LENT THEIR WORKS; TO THE ALCOA FOUNDATION AND ALCOA OF
AUSTRALIA; TO THE ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE
NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA; AND TO ALL WHO HAVEHELPED WITH
THE ASSEMBLING, TRANSPORT AND SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS.
FINALLY, I BELIEVE IT IS A MARK OF THE QUALITY
OF THE EXHIBITION WE HAVE HERE, THAT I UNDERSTAND IT IS TO BE
DISPLAYED AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART ON ITS RETURN TO NEW
YORK BEFORE THE WORKS ARE FINALLY DISPERSED ONCE AGAIN TO THEIR
OWNERS.
ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR THE PRIME MIINISTER FOR A DINNER
GIVEN BY ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA AT THE BENNELONG POINT
RESTAURANT, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE 9 APRIL 1975
1. ALL OF US CAN TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE EXHIBITION
OPENED THIS EVENING. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT THIS
MORE SELECT CELEBRATION SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE OPERA
HOUSE, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BUILDING IN THIS CITY, A
BUILDING THAT SYMBOLISES ALL THAT IS MOST MODERN AND
VIGOROUS IN OUR ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL LIFE.
2. I MUST SAY IT'S A PLEASURE TO ATTEND A DINNER
GIVEN By ALCOA AND NOT BE EXPECTED TO TALK ABOUT FOREIGN
INVESTMENT OR MINERALS AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIANS DON'T
NORMALLY ASSOCIATE ALCOA WITH THE ARTS, MODERN OR
OTHERWISE. LOOKING AROUND TH IS ROOM, I SEE QUITE
A FEW PEOPLE NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARTS.
3. ALCOA IS A SPLENDID EXAMPLE OF THE PHILANTHROPIC
FOUNDATION WHICH IS SUCH A NOTABLE FEATURE OF AMERICAN
BUSINESS LIFE. ( IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN THE FOUNDATION AND THE CORPORATION.) ONE THINKS
OF SIMILAR GREAT FOUNDATIONS FORD, CARNEGIE, ROCKEJXFELLER.
THESE BODIES HAVE GIVEN MANY MILLIONS, INDEED BILLIONS,
OF DOLLARS TO THE ARTS, SCIENCE, EDUCATION, MEDICAL
RESEARCH AND OTHER HUMANE CAUSES. THEY HAVE BROUGHT
INESTIMABLE BENEFITS To AMERICAN SOCIETY, AND ENHANCED
THE REPUTATION, NOT ONLY OF INDIVIDUAL CORPORATIQNS,
BUT OF THE UNITED STATES HERSELF,
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4, IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT ARE SOME OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED
REPRESENTATIVES OF AMERICAN ARTISTIC AND BUSINESS LIFE.
I CANNOT REMEMBER A TIME WHEN A MORE CULTIVATED AND
ESTIMABLE GROUP OF AMERICAN CITIZENS VISITED THIS CITY.
I WISH ALL OF. YOU A VERY HAPPY , STAY IN AUSTRALIA. WITHIN
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I SHALL BE MAKING MY THIRD VISIT TO
THE UNITED STATES AS PRIME MINISTER. I SHALL BE MEETING
PRESIDENT FORD FOR THE SECOND TIME. No ONE IN THIS
COUNTRY DOUBTS THE ENDURING STRENGTH OR IMPORTANCE OF
AUSTRALIA'S LINKS WITH THE UNITED STATES. MY OWN
GOVERNMENT'S FOREIGN POLICIES, WHILE SEEKING WIDER CONTACTS
' WITH OTHER NATIONS AND MORE MATURE AND INDEPENDENT
RELATIONSHIPS WITH COUNTRIES IN OUR REGION, HAS NEVER
DOUBTED THE UNIQUE VALUE OF OUR TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES.
I BELIEVE THE FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OUR
COUNTRIES HAVE NEVER BEEN STRONGER, OR MORE SOUNDLY
BASED, THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
WHATEVER CRITICISMS I MAY HAVE MADE OF PARTICULAR
AMERICAN POLICIES OR DECISIONS, I HAVE BEEN A LIFE-LONG
ADMIRER OF THE TRULY GREAT QUALITIES OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
ITS OPTIMISM, ITS GENEROSITY, ITS ZEST FOR CHANGE, FOR
INNOVATION, FOR SHEER ACCOMPLISHMENT. I BELIEVE WE SEE
MANY OF THESE QUALITIES IN INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE MUSEUM
OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK AND THE ALCOA FOUNDATION. THE
EXHIBITION OF MODERN MASTERS WILL REMIND US OF THE BEST AND
MOST VIGOROUS STRAINS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.