Orchestra optimistic

Press, 12 July 1980, Page 6

Orchestra optimistic

“I am quite optimistic that Christchurch will get its just desserts,” said Mr C. D. Brodrick, the manager of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, after informal talks with members of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. The talks were arranged after the Arts Council announced that the orchestra would receive only $15,000 this year. It had applied for about $BO,OOO. One aim of the talks was to see if the orchestra could get an extra $6OOO to tide it over until next year. Mr Brodrick said the talks were very successful, although they did not produce any concrete results. The Arts Council was

planning to formulate a new policy on regional orchestras when the problem of the Auckland Symphonia had “sorted itself out.” Christchurch would get “its fair share” under the new policy, he said. One of the main achievements was that the basis of the orchestra’s funding would be changed. In the past it had not been on the Art Council's “books” as a regular receiver of funds. It had received “one-off” grants each year. The change meant that the orchestra would have an] idea of what it would receive next year, and could: do more planning, said Mri Brodrick. •

Problems had been caused because the Art Council’s present policy had been formulated in the early .19705, when New Zealand was economically buoyant. It was thought the orchestras would continue to grow. Since 1974 the funds available for the arts had been cut off, and the orchestras had suffered.

Of the $6OOO grant to tide the orchestra over, Mr Brodrick said the orchestra would try to “make it” through the year on the funds it had. He was confident the council would be sympathetic to a request for further help if the orchestra fell short.