New manager for Celtic Barn

 

Following a huge community fundraising effort, Waipu’s Celtic Barn opened officially on July 4 last year with around 400 attendees serving evidence of the value and need for such a facility.

The first major event held there was the Art n Tartan Wearable Arts competition, and just ten days ago the Barn was really shown to advantage with the weather causing mayhem with the annual Waipu Highland Games but allowing dance and piping events to proceed.

Recognising the growing interest in the building and the need to have it managed professionally, Waipu Caledonian Trust chairman Don Fraser recently announced the appointment of Waipu local Claire Nicholls as manager of the new Celtic Barn.

Claire has a background of management and events planning in the arts sector. Prior to this new role she managed the Quarry Arts Centre in Whangarei for almost six years where she gained valuable skills which she believes will transfer to this new position well, including organising and hosting major events, sourcing funding, marketing and promotion, overseeing capital development projects and renovations, public and media relations and stakeholder management.

“I’m really looking forward to this new role,” says Claire. “We are so incredibly fortunate to have this multi-purpose facility in our community and it is testament to the spirit of Waipu where the community gets behind local projects in a big way.”

There are already nine weddings booked for 2016 as well as several other large scale events filling the calendar at least until the end of March with the ability to seat up to 450 people a major draw card. The Celtic barn is also utilised by three different sporting groups on a weekly basis.

“We are currently working on getting a website up and running early in 2016,” adds Claire “and we have a Facebook page to encourage people to join and find out about upcoming events.”

Anyone wishing to enquire about making a booking can also contact Claire by email, info@celticbarn.co.nz or call 021 272 2294.


WAIPU: Claire Nicholls takes on the new role of Celtic Barn manager.