Participate
Are you ready to get right amongst the arts action?
There are many ways to participate and experience the Festival this year - our full line-up of unmissable arts experiences and events for 2024 will launch on 30 August.
Our biggest participatory event is a long-time Festival favourite: the 2024 Mask Carnivale will return on Friday 1 November. And you can register NOW to be a part of this joyous inner-city explosion!
We'll see you at the street party of the year, Whakatū.
We're thrilled to offer our By Whakatū Residency opportunity again this year for an artist based in Te Tauihu - more information about this paid residency, and how to apply coming soon.
Our biggest participatory event is a long-time Festival favourite: the 2024 Mask Carnivale will return on Friday 1 November. And you can register NOW to be a part of this joyous inner-city explosion!
We'll see you at the street party of the year, Whakatū.
We're thrilled to offer our By Whakatū Residency opportunity again this year for an artist based in Te Tauihu - more information about this paid residency, and how to apply coming soon.
Mask Carnivale 2024
Mask Carnivale will transform our inner-city streets into a colourful explosion of joy, community and creativity on Friday 1 November 2024.
This year’s theme is all about our milestone birthday, of course: 30.
The number 30 is considered a lucky number in many cultures around the world, symbolising longevity, completion, growth or transformation – how’s that for a reason to celebrate!?!
So, whether you’d like to make this theme about a birthday party or a shapeshifting transformation, we can’t wait to see all the costumes and masks the number 30 inspires you to make!
Enrolments are now open, click the button below to register to be part of the magic and perform in the Parade.
Register nowThis year’s theme is all about our milestone birthday, of course: 30.
The number 30 is considered a lucky number in many cultures around the world, symbolising longevity, completion, growth or transformation – how’s that for a reason to celebrate!?!
So, whether you’d like to make this theme about a birthday party or a shapeshifting transformation, we can’t wait to see all the costumes and masks the number 30 inspires you to make!
Enrolments are now open, click the button below to register to be part of the magic and perform in the Parade.
By Whakatū Residency Programme
We want to support local artists through time and resources, help them meet new audiences, and to tell local stories to the community (and the world!).
We’re proud to again gift a paid residency to an incredible artist from our region, to progress their mahi or trial new ideas as part of the By Whakatū Residency Programme 2024. This will culminate in a sharing at the end of the Festival - to talk to what you’ve been playing with, share a work in progress or workshop ideas live with an audience.
Key Dates:
coming soon!
EOIs opening soon!We’re proud to again gift a paid residency to an incredible artist from our region, to progress their mahi or trial new ideas as part of the By Whakatū Residency Programme 2024. This will culminate in a sharing at the end of the Festival - to talk to what you’ve been playing with, share a work in progress or workshop ideas live with an audience.
Key Dates:
coming soon!
Workshops 2024
Keen to get right amongst the arts action and grow your skills under the guidance of our amazing Festival artists?
We hear you! This year, we’ll be offering some small group workshops for keen Whakatū folx - details will be announced on Friday 30 August.
Registrations opening soon!We hear you! This year, we’ll be offering some small group workshops for keen Whakatū folx - details will be announced on Friday 30 August.
Volunteer
We'd love a helping hand if you have some time this October.
Our amazing group of volunteers come together every year to help us with a variety of Festival tasks, from artist pick ups to ushering at our Festival venues.
Find out more here:
VolunteerOur amazing group of volunteers come together every year to help us with a variety of Festival tasks, from artist pick ups to ushering at our Festival venues.
Find out more here:
Tamariki & Rangatahi
We put together an awesome programme for our tamariki and rangatahi each year.
From school matinees to workshops to collaborations, we offer a wide range of opportunities for young people to experience the arts.
Some of these events are created especially for schools - to find out more, and book for your students, please contact us directly: education@nelsonartsfestival.nz
Tamariki & RangatahiFrom school matinees to workshops to collaborations, we offer a wide range of opportunities for young people to experience the arts.
Some of these events are created especially for schools - to find out more, and book for your students, please contact us directly: education@nelsonartsfestival.nz