Following the success of ''Decocade'', a combination of the Art Deco Festival and the Otago Goldfields Cavalcade in February, which was attended by about 5000 people, the organising group has decided to try something new.
Plans for the new event were outlined in a funding assistance letter to the Maniototo Community Board.
Rural Art Deco Maniototo Inc chairwoman Diane Paterson wrote to the board explaining the ''extremely successful'' Decocade event had provided a transition to a new festival.
Planned for the same weekend as the Otago Central Rail Trail Duathlon, the free event would celebrate Art Deco and the trail.
The two events had ''revitalised'' Ranfurly and the wider Maniototo over the past 14 years, Ms Paterson said.
Working with the Maniototo Lions Duathlon committee and businesses in the area, the group would create an event catering for the community, duathlon competitors and supporters, and visitors.
Such a festival was important for the Maniototo community because there were ''relatively few'' occasions when people of all ages could come together.
She believed the Art Deco event needed refreshing, Ms Paterson said.
It had been designed when there were not many events in the area, but it was now competing with others.
Some of the features of the Art Deco festival would not continue, such as the fashion parade and closing of streets, but the Centennial Milk Bar gallery would be open.
The group requested $1120 in funding from the Maniototo Community Board for poster production, radio advertising and street furniture hire.
Further funding of $9800 had been applied for from the Southern Victorian Charitable Trust to cover entertainment and event management costs.
Any other costs would be covered by applying to the Community Trust of Maniototo.
It was expected there would be a charge for stalls, with the resulting income expected to be less than $400, which would pay for decorations, electricity and other expenses.
In a draft budget, total expenditure was expected to be $12,850.
Applications for funding would be considered by the Maniototo Community Board at its meeting tomorrow.
