The Press SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1965. The Festival

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30680, 20 February 1965, Page 14

The Press SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1965. The Festival

The programme of the Pan Pacific Arts Festival has grown to quite massive proportions. Indeed, it is so diverse that it is hard to imagine anyone failing to find some items to entertain, delight, or inform. To attend every one would certainly be a big undertaking. Some persons may complain that the programme is not what it might have been; that a theme should have been more vigorously developed; that some feature is too high-brow or too “popular." What is important is that a festival has been arranged. It might have been organised along entirely different lines; but it would not necessarily have given more satisfaction to more people. It should be enjoyed for what it is. Many things are being offered to Christchurch that would not otherwise have been put before the public at this time, or, perhaps, ever. Some programmes on the rather bewildering European festival “ circuit ” have a particular theme, but most fit the modem definition of a festival: “ a collection “of artistic events in a pleasant place". Loose as it may appear, that seems to fit the Christchurch festival very well. The housing of a festival is important; and the difficulties of mounting this festival—however successfully they may have been surmounted —emphasise again the lack of a town hall in Christchurch. The festivals of many European cities, of course, are designed to honour a great composer or artist. Christchurch has neither such a unifying theme nor the buildings to give expression to it. Yet the programme for this festival has been fitted well to the local scene and the local talents, even if what many will regard as its highlights have been imported from older and richer centres of culture.

Some festivals celebrate the towns in which they are held as much as the arts. They are, in short, good business for the townspeople. Christchurch’s festival has been generously supported by the commercial community as well as by its citizens and its local bodies; but if this is considered as an “investment” it is one that not many will wish to consider in the terms of the market-place. A sense of occasion has sustained the organisers of the festival through their months—indeed, years—of preparatory work. It can hardly fail to inspire the performers and artists. Citizens from far and near should not fail to respond with massive support of all the events in this notable festival. Both artists and audiences will then be well rewarded.