asked the Minister for Education if he will make representations to the National Gallery to undertake exhibitions throughout the country at which the most outstanding paintings would be put on exhibition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Gallery Exhibitions.
53.
It is entirely a matter for the Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery, a statutorily constituted body, to consider whether they should arrange for exhibitions of material from the gallery at centres throughout the country, just as it is their function to decide on applications for the loan of pictures for particular purposes and to prescribe the conditions and requirements to be fulfilled in respect of any application to which they may agree to accede.
As I indicated on a previous occasion, the Governors and Guardians are willing to lend pictures from the gallery to museums and galleries in provincial towns which are properly constituted and where there is evidence that normal requirements in regard to the supervision, security and care of the pictures can be satisfactorily complied with.
Will the Minister not agree that it would be of benefit to this nation that the National Gallery should actively participate in organising public exhibitions of its more important paintings and would he take steps to see that this is undertaken?
I would agree that it is important that these pictures should be on view but as I pointed out, this is a statutorily constituted body. They are willing to lend pictures to museums and galleries in provincial towns where the normal requirements regarding supervision and security are satisfactory.