Festival director Frances McElhinney said festival staff were relaxing this week, but she wanted to have a debriefing before the end of the week to find out what worked well and what could be improved, as well as get an idea of how much money was generated.
The festival started on September 21 and finished on Sunday and included musical acts, the Oamaru Stone Symposium and the Art on Bikes tour, which ran from Weston to Oamaru on Sunday.
Mrs McElhinney said initial feedback was extremely positive.
''There was a good buzz.''
The only problem she was aware of had been ''noise bleed'' from an outside function interfering with one show.
There was demand for the festival to return next year.
''It's definitely something to build on. This is the first one - there's nothing to compare it to; there's no competitive stat. It's the great unknown.''
Several of the acts were relatively unknown but still attracted crowds, suggesting people were prepared to take chances.
''They could take a risk and have an amazing experience and that happened.''
The festival was about creating a space for a wide cross-section of the public to enjoy art, she said.
''You can't box art and that's the beauty of it. It's about innovation and creativity. Arts and culture isn't about exclusivity - it's about inclusivity.''
Wellington's Louis Baker, a singer-songwriter and 2014 Silver Scroll Award finalist for his song Back On My Feet, was one of the artists who took part.
Baker said arts and music festivals were important platforms for artists to get their work noticed and for the public to be able to enjoy creativity.
''They're very necessary for artists.
''In terms of arts festivals, the reason to go to them is to get cultured, get educated, have a good night, be social, go see something live. Live music and live arts is very much a ... part of culture and community across the world. There's so much going on right now, especially with digital.
''The whole live scene is very important and relevant.''
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher called the festival another ''great'' event for North Otago's calendar.
''Something like this is as much for locals as it is for visitors.''
