Grants from the Rotorua Trust are helping to provide a lift for the inner city.
A Trust contribution of $5000 towards two art installations supported the inauguralTulip Festival, andTrust support of $10,000 will be used to light trees of significance in the inner city through the Light RotoruaCampaign.
Brigitte Nelson, Project Manager at the Rotorua District Council, says the Tulip Festival came about as a result of the Inner City Focus Group’s desire to celebrate what already existed in our city.
“The Festival was community-driven to celebrate what we already have and build on it from there.”
The Trust funding went towards two art installations accompanying the Tulip Festival. A group called RotoruaYarn bomberscreated three hanging installations involving decorative woollen displays all knitted by the community.
The replantedlawn of tulips by Nicola Wright and Aly Rogers at the Rotorua Arts Village was created using recycled bottle tops, bottles and wire. The funding paid for co-ordination,planning, workshops and materials around each activity.
Both installations will be reused in 2015
In 2014, 36,000 bulbs were hand-planted in public flower beds throughout the inner city by the RDC gardeners. Brigitte says next year’s event will be even greater. As many as 42,000 bulbs are expected to be available for city planting, school projects and for sale as a promotion leading up to the 2015 event. As a result, the festival will be longer, with more activities and tailored tours.
“Now that we know that it works, we will go nationwide. People love gardens and our tulips are one of the best shows in New Zealand.”
The Light Festivalsits alongside the traditional Professionals Christmas house-lighting competition. Brigitte says it is not a light extravaganza but has seen those involved contributing by lighting up trees of significance throughout the city.
The PukeroaOruawhata Trust, for example, has lit up four trees with fairy lights on Amohau Street,and its water fountain outside the Central Mall provides a colourful display. Looking down Tutanekai Street, trees are lit up on the intersection with Eruera Street, on either side of the City Focus in Hinemoa Street, and on the intersection with Pukuatua Street.
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for thetrees to the sides of the City Focus and the lighting of a large tree outside the courthouse. The Rotorua Hospital Chaplaincy is lighting up the chapel so it can be seen from Lake Road.
“The idea of the Light Festival is to provide a greater Christmas feel to the inner city. It gives families a chance to take the children around and see the trees lit up and to view the shop window displays.”
The Light Festival has been supportedby Hepburn Electrical and SeftonElectrical, who have been responsible for installing the lights of the trees.
Some funding has also gone towards workshops and materials to teach and encourage retailers how to dress and decoratetheir store with Christmas windows.
Winners of a “best-dressed retail window” competition will receive $4000 worth of advertising with the Daily Post and Mediaworks.
For more information, contact:
Brigitte Nelson
07-351 7057
brigitte.nelson@rdc.govt.nz