The fourth Christchurch Arts Festival has been hailed as the "best ever".
The success of this year's festival is already fuelling plans for the 2003 festival, including the return of festival favourite the Telecom Pavilion in Victoria Square.
"We're thrilled with the success of the festival," says Festival Director Guy
Boyce.
Mr Boyce said attendances were well up on past years and public support and feedback had been overwhelming.
Around 93,000 people attended more than 300 performances over the 19 day festival that finished today.
"The high attendance figures demonstrate we devised a programme with good balance and we're already building on the success of this year's festival in planning for the city's 2003 festival, " says Mr Boyce.
Guy Boyce leaves for the renowned Edinburgh International Festival on August 17 to source new acts for the next Christchurch Arts Festival.
The festival has also received endorsement from Mayor Garry Moore.
"It has been a perfect mix of events and comes at just the right time to lift the city's spirits in this cold winter."
- CHRISTCHURCH STAR
