Carterton District Council is preparing to roll out the welcome mat to celebrate the opening of the first civic building to be built in Carterton’s in more than 100 years.
The Carterton Events Centre will officially open on the afternoon of Saturday 29 October when the public will have the opportunity to explore the multi-purpose centre and see it in action. Sunday 30 October will be a public open day from 10am to 2.00pm. The new auditorium will swing into action immediately with a gala opening concert by Rodger Fox’s Wellington Jazz Orchestra on the Saturday evening.
“Our aim for the opening is to have the centre operating as it would normally do to give people a sense of what could be happening at any time of the year,” said Carterton District Council community development manager Lorraine Gittings.
“While there is still a huge amount of work going on to put the finishing touches on the centre, there is a real sense of anticipation and excitement in both the local community and from others further afield, including potential users,” Lorraine Gittings said.
The fully-restored and extended historic library, the new toy library and the information centre will be open for business during the opening weekend. Wai Art will host the centre’s first art exhibition which will feature in the main foyer and the large meeting room will feature a display by the Carterton Historical Society and a slide show tracking the centre’s development. Carterton Plunket and Scouts will be running activities in their new home together with St John.
Lorraine Gittings said plans were being made with local iwi to bless the building before it is used which would be before the opening. “Iwi will also play a key part in the opening ceremony on the Saturday and we are working together to make this something special.”
Following the official opening on Saturday, a gala opening concert will be held in the 300-seat auditorium at 7.30pm. Titled ‘Kings of Swing’, the concert will feature Wellington’s premier big band, Rodger Fox’s Wellington Jazz Orchestra, which recently released its first recording, Journey Home, featuring acclaimed composer and pianist Alan Broadbent. The band was founded by big-band legend Rodger Fox and features the capital’s finest jazz talent.
“The concert line-up features sizzling ensemble playing, stunning soloists and the promise of a great evening,” said organiser Eric Turner. Wine will be available from 7pm before the concert.
The concert will showcase the music of jazz greats including Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw and Buddy Rich. Numbers will include favourites such as Moonlight Serenade, In the Mood, April in Paris, Woodchoppers Ball, One O’Clock Jump and Tuxedo Junction.
Tickets to the concert are $30 and are available from Carterton Information Centre, Masterton and Martinborough i-Sites, and Greytown Library.
Carterton’s Limelight Theatre will open their first show in the new centre, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, on Wednesday 9 November. The show runs until 19 November and tickets are available from Almo’s Books in Carterton. |
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