Hawke’s Bay Community Backs Festival

The local community is again getting behind the Harcourts Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, all the main sponsors have come back on board for the 2016 festival.

“We’re delighted and humbled to welcome back our key supporters from the 2015 festival and also welcome some new ones on board,” says Festival Director Pitsch Leiser.

For the second year running, Creative New Zealand and Hastings District Council have provided core funding for the festival, with Mayor Lawrence Yule saying they were “blown away” by the success of the 2015 event.

“The closure of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House had a huge impact on the performing arts world,” says Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule. “The arts festival helps fill that gap and the huge audience numbers prove that this is something our community really wants.”

Likewise, naming sponsor Harcourts Hawke’s Bay is continuing its association with the event. Managing Director, Kaine Wilson says the festival is a “natural fit” for the Harcourts brand. “Hawke’s Bay is booming,” he says. “We have an influx of visitors and people wanting to permanently migrate here for the fantastic lifestyle it offers. With the addition of the Harcourts Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival, Hawke’s Bay can now boast a thriving cultural scene as well.”

Media partner NZME sees the event as an integral part of the region’s growth. “As a nationwide media organisation, NZME has a vested interest in seeing the regions thrive,” says Hawke’s Bay General Manager Russell Broughton.

Thanks to this ongoing support, the festival is something the entire Hawke’s Bay community can enjoy, says Mr Leiser. “The financial backing enables us to set the pricing at an affordable level, with tickets starting at $15.00 for Readers/Writers events and family shows from $20.00.” This year’s festival also includes a free event thanks to funding from the Hastings City Vibrancy Fund. The virtual reality performance called ‘The Cube’ will run continuous 12-minute performances from 10.00am until 8.00pm for six days in a container in the Hastings City Centre Mall.

Mr Leiser says it’s heart-warming to have this level of support from local businesses and organisations. Returning sponsors, including Porters Boutique Hotel, City of Napier, Ngatarawa and Wallace Development Company have all helped make the festival a reality. Funding from charitable trusts and foundations, including a generous grant from ECCT are “the icing on the cake,” says Mr Leiser. “They enable us to offer added extras such as a heavily-subsidised education programme for schools.”

Sponsors, supporters, patrons and benefactors will be rewarded for their generosity with a first peek at the programme at the festival launch on Thursday night. Tickets go on sale to the public on Monday the 8th of August.

Harcourts Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival
4th – 16th October
www.hbaf.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media