KEY POINTS:
As Auckland Festival AK07 enters its final weekend, the verdict is in and it seems most people are happy to call the event a success.
Featuring seven sell-out shows and drawing record crowds to the Auckland Domain for Groupe F's free opening event, the biennial arts festival has clearly caught the attention of Aucklanders.
However, six of those seven shows opened during the first week of the festival and Herald arts editor Linda Herrick said AK07 lost some of its buzz this week. It needed a high-profile production to remind people the event was still on.
"The first week of the festival felt focused but this week the organisers needed to get much noisier about what was going on.
"Auckland is a busy place. You have to make a lot of noise to attract attention," she said.
Auckland Festival Trust board chairman Richard Waddell agreed that there was not much happening this week but said there were still some wonderful shows on.
"Scheduling is not easy. A lot of it is to do with the availability of venues and marrying those venues with the size and type of show, and when the performers are available," he said.
"I think it's fair to say the scheduling wasn't ideal but it's the absolute best we could do taking those constraints into account."
Though this week has seen fewer big-ticket productions, Spiegeltent owner David Bates said there had been a greater sense of community during the second half of the festival.
Home to the sell-out show La Clique, the Spiegeltent has also hosted daily concerts and converts to the late-night club, Club Spiegel, nightly.
"We've noticed a big change in attitude, not only in the numbers coming through, but the general vibe," he said. "It's such a young festival, it has taken the city a bit of time to embrace it."
Although exact revenue figures would not be available until after the festival ended, Mr Waddell said he was pleased with the response and expected turnover to meet the board's expectations.
WHAT'S ON
Today
* British magician Paul Zenon brings his unique brand of magic comedy to the Spiegeltent this evening with his show, Turning Tricks.
* Black Grace's production Amata continues its five-day run at SkyCity Theatre, until Sunday.
* The Spaghetti Western Orchestra, formerly the Ennio Morricone Experience, performs tonight and tomorrow at the Spiegeltent at 9.30pm.
Tomorrow
* The Festival Club presents an evening of traditional and contemporary Maori music, from 7.30pm.
* The Mamaku Project performs a free one-hour concert at Red Square, from 6pm.
Sunday
* Jazz veteran Nathan Haines performs a three-hour set at the Festival Club from 7.30pm, accompanied by an assortment of special guests.
* The Auckland Philharmonia presents Fire-Wind-Water at the Auckland Town Hall at 5pm.
