Summer Times future depends on funding

Press, 21 February 1987, Page 9

Summer Times future depends on funding

Summer Times will end with a “Grande Finale” in North Hagley Park tomorrow, but whether the programme will run again next year depends on the availability of funds. This year the Christchurch City Council set aside a budget of $75,000 after an on-again, offagain funding debate. Summer Times was also given last month a $2OOO grant by the Southern Regional Arts Council to assist with the promotion of several events.

Community support and some financial backing from the business community had ensured that Summer Times went ahead this year, in spite of speculation that the ending of the Govern-ment-funded temporary employment schemes would also signal an end to the programme. The programme was within the budget set aside by the council, said the assistant co-ordinator

of the programme, Ms Robyn Bern.

Staff had been “very pleased” with the large turnout of people at all the events and had been impressed with the high calibre of the performers, she said. All but two of the performers were Christchurch people. The continued good weather, especially during January, had also contributed to the high attendance. Only three performances, all in the last week, had been cancelled because of poor weather.

The lunchtime concerts had proved popular, although the entertainers probably had a “captive audience” in that many people passed through Cathedral Square, said Ms Bern.

The theme days at North Hagley Park and the evening concerts at the Arts Centre had also attracted big audiences. A highlight of the evening concerts had been “Mov-

ing Moments, Amazing Moments,” which included mime, dance, and juggling acts. This year’s programme was put together in about two months by two fulltime staff, Mr Lex Matheson and Ms Bern, and three students employed under the student jobsearch scheme. In previous years the programme has had a staff of up to 33, although most had not started work until nearer the annual December opening date. A report on the programme by the Summer Times staff would be considered at a meeting of the City Council’s parks and recreation committee on March 3, Ms Bern said. Today a “New Talent” day and picnic will be held at North Hagley Park between 1 and 4 p.m. Tomorrow the “Grande Finale” will begin at the park at 11 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m.