Festival of arts acquires permanent premises

Otago Festival of the Arts chairman Paul Dallimore (left) and festival director Nicholas McBryde...
Otago Festival of the Arts chairman Paul Dallimore (left) and festival director Nicholas McBryde reflect on the festival's new premises. Photo by Craig Baxter.
The Otago Festival of the Arts has acquired a permanent office, marking a "coming of age" for the festival, organisers say.

Festival director Nicholas McBryde said the 10-day event, which is held every two years, had continued to break even, and had proved a consistent artistic and critical success.

Leasing the twin-level, 500sq m offices at 233 Stuart St, next to the Fortune Theatre, marked a significant milestone and "coming of age" for the festival organisation, Mr McBryde said on Friday.

The office was strategically placed, in former art gallery premises close to the festival's main performance venues.

It made a welcome change from a series of temporary offices, which had previously been rented for six months before festivals.

Festival board chairman Paul Dallimore said there was growing interest among sponsors in supporting cultural as well as sporting events.

Establishing a permanent office would enable festival organisers to achieve a higher profile between events and to maintain better links with sponsors, funders and the community, Mr Dallimore said.

The first Otago Festival of the Arts was first held in 2000, with the fifth staged last year, the budget having risen from $560,000 to about $1 million over that time, organisers said.

The next festival will be staged in October next year.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz

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