First-rate festival 'or the bush’

Press, 19 November 1977, Page 6

First-rate festival 'or the bush’

Christchurch had the choice of a first-rate festival or a “local or national affair . . .” the chairman of the Christchurch Arts Festival, Mr Gerald Lascelles, said last evening.

In response to a comment by the Mayor (Mr H. G. Hay) that “the festival organisers were not sufficiently middle-of-the-road in their choice of artists,” Mr Lascelles said that Christchurch had the chance to seize upon an event of some quality, or “let the : whole idea of a first-rate fesI tival slip through its grasp I thro ugh lack of enterprise and I timorous thinking. “I would not wish the Town Hall Board or the public to think that the Festival Society has delusions of grandeur, but it is Sydnev or the bush,” Mr Lascelles said. The society had to find about 820.000 for the use of facilities alone. “In organising an event presumably considered desirable bv the city, is it unreasonable to request some assistance with the hiring costs of the different venues administered by the local bodies?” Mr Lascelles said. “I am not quite sure what His Worship means when he says he wants more middlebrow fare, but I know that' many whom I Would consider middle-brow artists ask more exorbitant fees than the highest of the high-brow artists one cares to name. “Regrettably, if one wants the best in my field, one has to pay for it. The approach to the Town Hal] Board of Management was made reluctantly when it was realised that the day for requesting reasonable backing could no longer be postponed.

“My executive felt that the festival would fall short of purpose and achievement unless a sufficiently high number of artists of calibre was presented. The principle we have followed is seen in the Town Hall itself which was constructed to a high standard notwithstanding the financial problems resulting in respect of it.” If the festival was cancelled the Town Hall board would lose considerable hire income, both from society events, and those promoted for the festival by local managements. Also lost would be commission on ticket sales, profits on bar sales, and additional restaurant sales.' "The festival does not intend to overlook local performers of achievement either, as our past programmes show?’ Mr Lascelles said. "But if we want

to see and hear leaders in their fields, both from New Zealand and overseas, it will not be cheap.”

Mr Lascelles said he knew of no festival of significance! which did not receive substantial support from the city which hosted it; It could be that Christchurch was not yet. wealthy enough to stage a festival of that calibre, but these were not the indications.

“That we can, in time, establish a festival of the first rank in Christchurch is undoubted; the only thing in doubt is whether Christchurch wants it,” Mr Lascelles said. He said the society enjoyed a “most happy association” with the Town Hall board, and was grateful for the assistance which had been extended. The Mayor was not available for comment last evening.