Nelson Arts Festival

Civic House
P. O. Box 645
110 Trafalgar Street
Nelson, NZ
Email: festivalenquiries@ncc.govt.nz

Thousands of children throng the streets dressed as everything from Buzzy-Bees to characters from Maori myth — the Nelson Masked Parade has a Playful Pacifica theme this year as it launches the Nelson Arts Festival — 17 days of music, theatre, dance, comedy, writers’ talks and community events. Nelson’s heritage venues will feature some of the country’s top artists, such as pianist Michael Houstoun playing Douglas Lilburn and Jennifer Ward-Lealand as the young Rita Angus in Rita & Douglas at the Theatre Royal. Then there’s the latest — a series of bizarre monologues — from Joe Bennett and Lyttelton’s Loons Circus Theatre at The Suter Theatre, plus cabaret, music and the Page & Blackmore Readers and Writers talks at the Granary Festival Café and Festival Tent, at Founders Heritage Park. Also at Founders is the OI You! street art exhibition with works by Banksy and other world street artists, an installation by Auckland’s Cut Collective and the finalists in the nationwide Oi You! art competition. Downtown school performance takes the stage at Westpac Red Square and the Church Steps and Cathedral are lit up with stories of Nelson’s past in Mike Hodgson’s sound and light installation Piki Mai.

The Nelson Arts Festival is produced by the Nelson City Council as a celebration for locals and an attraction of visitors. http://www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz

http://www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz/