Christchurch book festival postponed until 2021
The postponement of a popular Christchurch book festival because of the coronavirus pandemic is being treated as an opportunity to showcase local authors.
Word Christchurch, a non-profit charitable trust, runs the festival every second year in August to highlight popular local and international authors and books.
A statement sent out yesterday announced this year’s festival (scheduled for August 26 to 30) had been postponed to 2021. It would then run again in 2023.
Programme director Rachael King said the postponement was a ‘‘huge disappointment’’, but she also saw it as a business opportunity.
A ‘‘smaller, more intimate’’ event would take place instead.
The new event, scheduled between October 30 and November 1, will focus on writers and readers from across New Zealand.
‘‘We’re really looking forward to the challenge of creating a new festival in this environment. It will have the same vibrancy and people can still meet authors, get their books signed and buy books,’’ King said.
‘‘We’ve decided to use it as an opportunity to do something different and also to really focus on New Zealand books and New
Zealand writers and give them the limelight they deserve.’’
King said the trust had to become ‘‘more creative’’ about the kind of events it held.
The programme for the new event would probably be finalised in early September. More information can be found on the Word Christchurch website.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to sport, cultural, entertainment and graduation events across the country being cancelled. The country entered alert level 2 last Thursday, easing some restrictions and paving the way for many businesses and community facilities to reopen.
While gatherings are allowed, they are limited to 10 people. Event facilities, including cinemas, stadiums, concert venues and casinos have a limit of 100 customers at any time, and require 1-metre physical distancing and record keeping.
‘‘We’ve decided to . . . really focus on New Zealand books and New Zealand writers and give them the limelight they deserve.’’
Rachael King, programme director