The Festival of Colour will return to Wānaka next autumn with a new naming sponsor.

The new sponsorship arrangement with Milford Asset Management will allow the trust behind the biennial festival (Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust, or SLAFT) to expand on its achievement as the region’s premiere performing arts and ideas festival.

“We have a highly successful history delivering high quality arts experiences to the region, and after an all-New Zealand programme in 2021 due to the pandemic, the festival is excited to be welcoming back international shows to Wānaka and the surrounding region in 2023,” SLAFT chair Alistair King said. 

“Milford Asset Management’s support allows us to continue to grow and develop our festivals, deliver amazing events, and provides surety to the organisation.”

The naming sponsorship will be in place for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

“The trustees are very pleased to be working with a company with a strong history of many years of community support, particularly around the festival,” Alistair said. 

Milford Asset Management has previously been a ‘gold sponsor’ of the event and company representative Andrew MacKenzie said it looked forward to increasing its support. 

“...It is exciting for us to increase our support and assist the trust to deliver meaningful and engaging arts experiences to our community.”

After the 2021 Festival Of Colour, long-term festival director Philip Tremewan stood down from his role. 

SLAFT has contracted Sophie Kelly as artistic director and Charlie Unwin as executive director to deliver the next festival, which will take place from March 26-April 2, 2023.

It will be the tenth Festival of Colour. 

PHOTO: Supplied