Media Release

Friday 9 December, 2011

Celebrating Selwyn event worthwhile

Despite Celebrating Selwyn happening shortly after the Canterbury earthquakes, the festival was still able to achieve its objectives and was a great success, Chair Dee Innes says.

Applauding the hard work of the voluntary committee, funders and suppliers at the Celebrating Selwyn committee’s annual meeting recently, Mrs Innes said the event had been outstanding.

Celebrating Selwyn was set up in 2005 and the first guide produced in 2007, with the intention of celebrating the art, culture and environment of the Selwyn district every two years. The 2011 event ran from 25 March to 10 April, and was promoted in a beautiful coloured guide with maps, and a website www.CelebratingSelwyn.com.

The festival featured 85 events, organisations and places - fewer than the previous guide but most likely the result of the earthquakes and the economic downturn, Mrs Innes said.

“Nevertheless the guide provided a range of benefits for the residents, businesses and visitors to the Selwyn district.”

A quarter of the venues in the guide were not generally open to the public or were events organised specifically for Celebrating Selwyn.

Attendance ranged from 14 in a private home on the western boundary of Selwyn to 1500 visiting an exhibition in a well frequented café.

“Celebrating Selwyn attracted significant visitors from outside the district and the guide and website are a continuing resource advertising attractions in Selwyn district long after the stipulated dates,” she said.

“The majority of participants felt it was worthwhile taking part and for varying reasons: Exposure, new membership, networking, extra customers, as a teaching tool, recognition of fellow artists, and fun in addition to financial sales. Group events seemed to be enjoyable and professionally rewarding. These participants indicated they would take part again.”

Mrs Innes says the festival was made possible through the hard work of the committee, and help from funders and suppliers, including the Selwyn District Council, The Canterbury Community Trust, Energy 3, Creative Communities NZ Selwyn District, CRT, Malvern Record, Chris Jones of Bayleys and artist Mike Glover.

The next festival will run from Saturday 23 March to Sunday 7 April 2013.

Ends

© Scoop Media