Summer Times planning begins

Press, 12 August 1985, Page 34

Summer Times planning begins

Expanding people’s leisure interests was one of the aims of the Summer Times programme being planned for this year, said the controlling supervisor, Ms Mary Williams, on Thursday. “We would like to have workshops on various subjects set up in a particular area, so that people can try different events for themselves,” said Ms Williams. “We would like to try to expand people’s leisure interests and the use of their leisure time. “This year, we hope that people will be familiar enough with Summer Times and its concepts to be able to feel free to put a greater amount of their own input to the programme,” she said. "We are really only here as co-ordinators.” Planning for the Summer Times programme will begin in earnest next week after the meeting of the newly appointed planning committee, which has been employed by the Christchurch City Council. The Labour Department has approved 33 positions under employment schemes, but most of these will not be filled until nearer the starting date in December. Those now employed are the controlling supervisor, programme and promotion supervisors, a typist and administration officer. The parent body for the 10-week to 12-week programme is the council’s parks and recreation department. Ms Williams said the proposed programme included four or five theme afternoons in Hagley Park at week-ends, eight to 10 musical evening events to be held during the week in the park and at the Arts Centre, and lunchtime entertainment in Cathedral Square. Entertainment was also planned for- the suburban centres, which would probably start at the beginning of December, she said. An activity team of five would liaise with community groups, helping them organise their own activities. They would also be present at programme events encouraging people to take part, said Ms Williams. The planning committee would decide whether to start the main events before Christmas or have the programme coincide with the popular New Year’s Eve

Mardi Gras. Aside from the suburban entertainment, the lunchtime programme would probably start in midDecember and run until mid-February, Ms Williams' said. A lot of “positive feedback” had been received for last year’s Summer Times from members of the community. “We, have also had a-lot of letters and telephone calls from various organisations supporting this year’s planned Summer Times programme,” she said.

High school pupils would again be encouraged to design colourful banners, which would be hung in and around the streets of Christchurch during the programme. The Summer Times organisers would supply schools with the vinyl and paint needed for the banners, which would have to be completed by midNovember, Ms Williams said. The Summer Times programme, which had a budget this year of $330,000, was funded largely by the

City Council, and by the Labour Department which subsidised the wages of the Project Employment Programme workers employed, Ms Williams said. Some of the temporary staff were employed for between three and 12 months. The planning committee would also apply for grants from local authorities to help finance the programme. Several Christchurch businesses had been approached for sponsorship and more sponsors were being sought. Ms Williams said the busi-

ness community had been supportive of the programme in the past. This year the majority of the planning staff would work from the Arts Centre. “Last year, we had 25 people working in the council offices, which was”'a little difficult,” said Ms Williams. “The. CommonRoom above the Dux de Lux Restauranat, where we will be working, has more space.” The promotional staff and administration would remain at the council offices, she said.