Games festival "successful”

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 18

Games festival "successful”

The Arts Festival held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games had been generally well supported and had a good chance of break-! ing even, said Mr H. G. Hay.; chairman of the Arts Festival Executive, last evening. “The organisers feel that it has satisfactorily achieved its original object to provide worth-while cultural entertainment for Games visitors to Christchurch,” Mr Hay said. “Some events were not as well attended as expected, but drama, art exhibitions, and the major musical concerts, together with children’s activities, attracted large audiences,’’ he said. The festival programme ;had been co-ordinated so that ,it would not clash or compete with Games sporting activities. It had been felt that 1 the emphasis of the programme should be on New ; Zealand, and particularly Christchurch, artists. Mr Hay thanked all the artists and organisations which had taken part in the festival, and the public for their support. The festival committee could now concentrate its efforts on planning a major arts festival for March, 1975, which would include overseas attractions.