Carols back to smaller venue

Christmas event at oval fails to attract patrons

A LAST-DITCH bid to host a large-scale outdoor Christmas carols event at North Hobart Oval has failed to gain traction, with organiser ExitLeft Productions to revert back to its plan for small-scale carols events at St David’s Cathedral.

The Hobart company ran a two-week campaign calling for pledges from the community to fund its Carols by Candlelight at the North Hobart Oval on December 23 to the tune of $150,000.

With only hours remaining last night, the campaign had raised about $26,500 in pledges from about 170 supporters.

ExitLeft had previously announced it planned to hold a series of smaller carols events at St David’s Cathedral on December 9 and 10.

Company managing director Ian Williams last night conceded it would revert back to its original plan.

“We will have meetings with various stakeholders for . . . our original plan for smallscale events at St David’s Cathedral,” he said.

Mr Williams had said $150,000 was what was needed to cover costs associated with hiring North Hobart Oval, staging, light and sound, safety and security, creating the show and the performances.

He said the business needed 7500 people to pledge to buy tickets to make up the $150,000, but about 20,000 people could have easily been accommodated across two performances at the oval.

Earlier this year, more than 90 per cent of respondents to a Mercury online poll called for outdoor carols to be continued in Hobart.

Mr Williams rejected the notion that Hobartians may be annoyed by the current situation surrounding outdoor carols events and constant venue changes.

“I don’t think they should feel frustrated, there are so many options for carols events,” he said.

ExitLeft won the Hobart City Council tender to produce last year’s carols event at the Royal Botanical Gardens, but was on the receiving end of a public backlash after the 10,000 free tickets were snapped up within minutes.

As part of a change in direction this year, the council decided to instead help fund seven smaller community carols events for a total of $46,500.

They will be held at Guilford Young College Hobart, Mount Stuart Memorial Hall, Ogilvie High School in New Town, West Hobart Recreation Ground, Korean Full Gospel Church in Elizabeth St, John Turnbull Park in Lenah Valley and the St David’s Cathedral.