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Mondrian were to mine. I believe our museum must act as an intermediary between the artist and the public, and that by acquiring and showing what is new, significant, and vital, we will be instrumental in helping to narrow the aesthetic and cultural generation gap. It is also vital that we fill in our own gaps, so as to make our collections as comprehensive and distinguished as possible.

In a related context, I am convinced that our Museum must maintain an active exhibition program which will provide at least three exhibitions each year. These should concentrate on recent developments as well as on historical surveys and whatever else is relevant to the collections and functions of the Museum. My own feeling is that no tight lines should be drawn, that our Museum should be free to show art of all types and epochs, and from every culture. After all, contemporary art is a continuation of past cultures, and one of the positive aspects of our age is its interest [[underlined]]in[[/underlined]] and familiarity [[underlined]]with[[/underline]] the cultures of the past. In the arts, we are as intrigued by what was once called primitive or savage art as we are with what we refer to as the classical tradition of the West. As a society is always in the process of transforming itself, it is more necessary than ever to study the many facets of our cultures and traditions. For this purpose, a permanent collection is not enough. The director and his staff must mount informative and provocative exhibitions which will reinforce and illuminate the permanent collections and the art of our time.

I am also concerned that the greatest care be taken to protect and conserve the collections. The Museum is intended for posterity, and