Nau mai,
haere mai!

Nau mai, haere mai ki te whānau!

For 2021, we focussed on CONNECTION. After a year a-part and holding each other by staying distant, our intention was to connect through creativity. We commissioned new works especially for our place and our people, and bookended the festival with our two full city immersion community events, whilst creating a space for (almost) daily connection at our new inner city Festival Hub and an online extension of our Pukapuka Talks programme.

Sadly, we were not able to connect the way we wanted to due to the risk to our community posed by the COVID-19 Delta outbreak. Instead of our full programme, we focused on a small offering of visual arts, limited number in person events and 3 literary experiences online, and found connection in this shared experience with our community of arts lovers.

And now, we look forward to creating a 2022 festival for, and with, you!
Keep in touch to find out what this will look like - we look forward to reconnecting with you all.

Kia kaha, kia atawhai, kia haumaru.
Stay strong, stay kind, stay safe.

Arohanui,
Your Nelson Arts Festival team