Festival may break even

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34107, 20 March 1976, Page 12

Festival may break even

If the Arts Festival Committee members had any doubts about the financial success of the festival—and these weighed heavily on them in its opening days—they have lost them now. Although detailed figures' are not yet available, and will not be for another week, the indication is that, all of the ' arts festival i events — with the possible: exception of “Coppelia” — has broken even. The committee is optimistic that; even “Coppelia,” one of the' most costly festival items to mount, will also emerge with balanced books. It was thought about a

month ago that the festival would cost 541.000. At that stage §38,500 was to hand. Since then about $75,000 has come in through ticket sales. * However, artists, have to be paid, and all had negotiated different contracts. The Arts Festival Com- : mittee’s aim is to foster the ■ amateur and professional arts in Christchurch by returning profits made at performances to the individuals and companies concerned. Although only 30,000 tickjets will have been sold by Gthe end of the festival — J the same number had been ■lsold by the beginning of the ■ festival last year — the move to scale down the festival was deliberate; an attempt to save energy and finances for a larger festival i’in 1978.