The Christchurch Festival

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 12

The Christchurch Festival

Securing Sir Malcolm Sargent to open the arts festival in Christchurch next February implies a special responsibility on the city to ensure that the occasion is worthy of the famous visitor as well as a credit to the city. It is not easy, in arranging such a festival, to strike a happy balance between local and imported artists or even between amateur and professional contributions. The programme that the organisers have sketched suggests that the difficulty is recognised and that it will be overcome. They expect to attract to Christchurch first-class professional contributions from other parts of New Zealand and the Pacific. A well-planned festival of music, drama, and other arts can and should promote an interest and enthusiasm far greater than would ordinarily be aroused by separate and unrelated events.

The support of industry and commerce which has been obtained so far is encouraging. Those who have undertaken to back the festival have obviously been convinced that it will be artistically worth while and advantageous to the city. As the plans for the festival take firmer shape the organisers should be able to count upon a mounting public interest and enthusiasm, which, indeed, will be needed to give the enterprise its proper festival character. Then the occasion will surely fulfil its double purpose of serving both the artists who contribute and the city which will be their host.