Arts festival launched in style

Irish band, Roesy and the Seisiun open the Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival in the famous Spiegeltent. Photo / Warren Buckland

The inaugural Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival kicked off in style last night with a lavish opening inside the famous Spiegeltent on the Havelock North Domain.

About 60 dignitaries and sponsors helped open the cultural celebration extravaganza-the brainchild of Creative Hastings.

Festival Director Pitsch Leiser said Hawke's Bay has long been in need of an international standard arts festival.

"It's been a long journey but we have finally made it. It's crazy to think we have pulled it off."

He said through the help of "many hands" and the community support he was able to achieve this feat.

"Hawke's Bay have a very cultured population and to have this sort of talent in their backyard is very exciting. Now they have a magic venue to come together and celebrate that."

Acclaimed Irish band Roesy and the Seisiun officially opened the Hawke's Bay Today -sponsored festival with a melodic performance met with a roaring ovation.

Their trademark tones and fleet-footed dancers set the standard for a quality lineup of local and international talent.

The idea behind the festival was to help fill that void and Mr Leiser is confident it will become an annual feature on the Bay's events calendar.

Close to 7000 tickets had already been snapped up before opening night.

"The response from the community has been fantastic, well beyond all my expectations."

"I don't think I need to tell you why the arts are important to the welfare of a city. I think the community is really going to embrace these 13 days of quality arts and culture."

Tickets for the first week's main shows have sold out and the second week is set to follow suit.

"I think the future of this festival is very bright."

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