Joint ventures mooted for Town Halls

Press, 22 September 1983, Page 9

Joint ventures mooted for Town Halls

Joint ventures between the Christchurch Town Hall and Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre might be arranged to attract overseas artists, said the chairman of the Christchurch Town Hall Board of Management, Sir Hamish Hay, yesterday.

Sir Hamish told the board that the presence of the Christchurch Town Hall’s “twin” in Wellington would pose a challenge but he was confident that the two centres would be able to “co-operate constructively.” The possibility of joint ventures could be investigated. Artists could arrive in Christchurch, give a televised performance at the Town Hall, and give a second performance at the Michael Fowler Centre before leaving New Zealand, “possibly missing out Auckland altogether,” he said.

Sir Hamish had attended the opening of the Michael

Fowler Centre and told the board he was impressed by the magnificence of the building, but that it was limited as a conference centre.

“They could find they will be using the old Town Hall for conference openings,” he said.

Board members felt that the Wellington complex could not match the setting of the Christchurch Town Hall. Arts Festival

The board approved in principle several proposals for use of the Town Hall during the 1984 Christchurch Arts Festival.

A computerised ticket booking system is likely to be installed for the festival. Terminals in the Town Hall would be linked to others in Christchurch to enable people to book from several locations.

Sir Hamish said the commission from bookings

would be lower than normal but the board would pick up revenue for bookings at other venues.

Permanent computer facilities for bookings at the Town Hall could soon be considered, he said. Acts which might be staged at the Town Hall during the festival include the Actors Touring Company, from London, the Band of the Coldstream Guards, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and the New Zealand Ballet.

The Limes Room will be used as a venue for the Festival Club.

New manager

Sir Hamish told the board that 33 persons had applied for the post of manager of the Town Hall. A short list of nine had been interviewed. Executive selection consultants had been asked to help choose a new manager.