MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETIES. Societies in the United States which take their name from the !purpose of their organization, which is the promotion of municipal art, i.e. art as applied to cities. They seek in a general way to beautify cities. Among the means advocated to this end are the planning of cities with regard to artistic beauty, as well asto the needs of traffic: the planting of streets with trees. and the restriction of the billboard nuisance; the increase in the number and size of parks, especially in the con gested districts: worthy sites and beautiful architecture for public buildings. and their dec oration with statuary and mural painting; the 1.11111Piii`dlinent of the city with statues, monu and other works of art—things which have long been esteemed essential in European cities. These ideas are promoted by local so like the Alimicipal Art Societies of New Viirk. Chicago, :Baltimore. Cincinnati, etc.. the
Fairmount Park A ssocia I ion of Philadelphia. and by the American Park and Outdoor Asociation. Among the achievements of the movement have been the official appointment of :Municipal Art Commissions, composed principally of artists, by New York )1 lid ('hicago, with general supervision over public buildings, monuments.. and other ar tistic undertakings: the enactment of legislation. both State and local, against the billboard nui sance in 'lit-ago: the appointment of eommissions of expert, to devise comprehensive plans for the growth of NVashington I 190 I ) and similar pro posals for New York ( 1 90:1). Two volnines of Manic/pa/ Affairs are devoted to the movement, vols. ii. and iii. (New Yell*, I 89S-O9). Consult also C'. Robinson. 7'he I in pro ;Tin en t of 7'olens awl leg (ib,, 1p11(1) ; Modern ririe Art (ib..
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