The Arts in New Zealand

That Salient should reach beyond the student body for comments on the present state of the arts in New Zealand reflects a dissatisfaction with the dearth of student contribution to this all-important aspect of living.

In some quarters, the student community has demonstrated vitality in the arts, but m others its failings and its lack are all too evident.

Readers may gauge from the comments of the writers in this special issue how we, and the nation as a whole, stand in each field. There is no claim, however, that a deep and comprehensive coverage of either the arts, or the Universities' contribution to them, has been obtained.

We are not offering a trite formula summing up "The Arts Today" for Readers Digest readers. In fact, as a coverage in breadth, this issue is inadequate. We have little references to the civic arts, the use of leisure, or minority movements in the arts; little evaluation of community attitudes to objects and things of beauty, influences moulding art forms, advertising, Maori Art, the arts of drinking, of living and many other aspects of this endless field—the Arts.

A deep and searching analysis has been given by some of our contributors, whilst others have relied on the use of provocative comments to encourage the reader to probe in depth himself.

As Peter Bland observed when offering us the anthology of poetry contained on one of our inner pages, "People can make up their own minds as to quality"; so we observe that readers can work out their own opinion on the present level of creativity in the community.

Some of the articles do point to real achievement, whilst others crystallise our deficiencies. The comments made by Bruce Mason and Roger Savage on the competence of critics in New Zealand demonstrate this latter concern.

It is a crucial issue they raise, for without competent critics it is not possible to see or aid development in the arts.

As the daily press has a responsibility to assume its neglected responsibility of providing quality criticism, so the student press has a need to recognise its past failings. With the recent recognition by the Students' Association executive of the excessive time and energy required to produce Salient—and their consequent provision of a £200 p. a. editor's scholarship (to take effect next year)—future Salient editors will be given the opportunity to help fill the breach and provide critical commentaries not only in the arts, but on all topics.