December 17, 2009

FUTURE OF CHRISTCHURCH ARTS FESTIVAL SECURED  
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Christchurch Arts Festival Trust, Creative New Zealand and the Christchurch City Council have agreed to funding that secures the future of the Christchurch Arts Festival as a biennial feature in the city’s arts calendar.

The funding includes a one-off Council grant of $177,000, a conditional commitment from Creative New Zealand (minimum $150,000) towards the 2011 Festival and a council loan of $300,000 repayable over three years. As with previous years, ongoing Council grants of $250,000 per annum will be made from the Council’s events budget.

Councillor David Cox said the agreement would ensure the Festival is right for Christchurch and continues to lift the city’s profile through quality artistic programming. "The Arts Festival is a fantastic event for our city attracting attendees from near and far, and the Council enjoys the relationship it has with both the Festival’s Trust and Creative New Zealand," said Councillor Cox. "This year’s festival was a huge success in terms of local and national media coverage and saw some wonderful international acts perform here in Christchurch. Attendance numbers were much higher than those in 2007 due to the extension of free events and visibility of the Festival in Cathedral Square."

Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright said he was very pleased that agreement had been reached to make possible the continuation of the Arts Festival in Christchurch. "The festival in Christchurch has provided a great forum for New Zealanders to have access to high quality New Zealand work. It also provided opportunities for the local arts community to interact with international artists," Mr Wainwright said. "We want the arts to flourish throughout the country and this agreement means the arts festival should be a keynote event in the Christchurch arts calendar in 2011," he said.

Christchurch Arts Festival Chair Clare Murray said the Christchurch Arts Festival was delighted with the decisions from the City Council and Creative New Zealand. "Festivals benefit the community, offering a substantial positive economic impact and a feel-good factor for the host city which assist in making it an interesting, creative and exciting place to visit and live. "

The Trust Board, the City Council and Creative New Zealand, together with various professionals and members of the community, have been working hard to ensure that the Festival is able to continue to contribute to the vibrancy of Christchurch in the winter period. "The Trust Board is pleased our supporters continue to recognise the value of the Festival to Christchurch and have provided funding that will enable the Trust to achieve its purpose of delivering an excellent and financially sustainable Arts Festival in Christchurch."

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Thursday, 17 December, 2009 – 09:52
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Christchurch Arts Festival Trust
Christchurch City Council
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Creative New Zealand
David Cox
Stephen Wainwright
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