30 years of culture at the Nelson Arts Festival

Nelson’s enduring arts festival turns 30 this year and is back on 24 October with a line-up worthy of this significant milestone.

Initially conceived by Dame Suzie Moncrieff as a wrap-around event for the Word of Wearable Art (WOW), the festival took shape when she met Annabel Norman, who moved to Nelson in the early 1990s.

Keen to find Annabel paid work after volunteering for WOW, Dame Suzie suggested Annabel ask Nelson Mayor Philip Woolaston for Council support.

“Woollaston was a champion for the arts, and he could see the value in creating another cultural festival for Nelson,” says Dame Suzie. 

In 1994, Council appointed Annabel Norman to research and develop the Nelson Arts Festival providing funding, logistical assistance, and the use of public spaces, which were vital for the festival’s launch. That year, a small trial was held called Off the Wall. It featured cabaret, talks and lectures, and art tours of artist’s galleries in the city.   

The first full Nelson Arts Festival was held the following year and Annabel worked as the festival director for the next 16 years. 

Over the past three decades the festival has grown from its humble origins into a vibrant cultural cornerstone of our city, bringing art in all its forms to Te Tauihu and providing a platform for local, national and international artists to perform. 

The 2000s brought significant development for the festival. Council increased its investment to broaden the festival’s appeal and attract a wider audience. 

The establishment of the Nelson Arts Festival Trust in 2018 was a pivotal moment, with the trust managing the festival, securing additional funding, and supporting its growth.  

“Under the stewardship of the trust, the festival has flourished,” says Group Manager Community Services Andrew White. 

“The introduction of new formats, workshops, and interactive experiences has kept the event fresh. The trust’s ability to secure additional funding has supported Council’s investment and helped the festival to grow into the hugely successful event we see today.”

The 30th Anniversary line-up features more than 200 artists, an electrifying mix of visual arts, theatre, music, books, comedy, poetry, and dance.  

Highlights include Rutene Spooner’s comedy cabaret about his childhood obsession with Kiwi legend Billy T James,  Lusi Faiva’s journey from her youth in 1960s Samoa to the inspiring warrior she is today in AIGA at the Theatre Royal, 90’s rave-inspired dance performance The Butterfly That Flew Into the Rave, stand-up comedy from 2024 Best Newcomer Courtney Dawson and Jacqueline Bublitz’s unveiling of her latest novel Leave the Girls Behind.

For the full line-up including the beloved Mask Carnivale on 1 November and live music at Kirby Lane, the Deville Music Hub, NCMA, and even a string quartet at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary visit: nelsonartsfestival.nz