Who We Are
As the Nelson Arts Festival Trust, we are committed to igniting creativity and connection through transformative arts experiences.
Our flagship yearly event, the Nelson Arts Festival continues,as a strong pou for the Whakatū creative community. Now in its 31st year, it is the longest running annual regional festival in Aotearoa.
Every Spring, we curate, craft and celebrate 11 days of unmissable arts experiences in of Whakatū Nelson, Te Tauihu (and beyond).
The Nelson Arts Festival Trust acknowledges Whakatū as our tūrangawaewae, our home and our foundation. We honour the eight tangata whenua iwi of Te Tauihu and uphold our responsibility to Te Tiriti o Waitanga, with a commitment to continuous learning.
For over 30 years, the festival has served as a conduit for creative expression in our community, weaving together stories of people and place. The grit, determination and imagination that made this festival possible in the very beginning is alive and well today. We will continue to nurture this kaupapa.
We celebrate the many hards, hearts, and minds that make Nelson Arts Festival unique to our region.
Every Spring, we curate, craft and celebrate 11 days of unmissable arts experiences in of Whakatū Nelson, Te Tauihu (and beyond).
The Nelson Arts Festival Trust acknowledges Whakatū as our tūrangawaewae, our home and our foundation. We honour the eight tangata whenua iwi of Te Tauihu and uphold our responsibility to Te Tiriti o Waitanga, with a commitment to continuous learning.
For over 30 years, the festival has served as a conduit for creative expression in our community, weaving together stories of people and place. The grit, determination and imagination that made this festival possible in the very beginning is alive and well today. We will continue to nurture this kaupapa.
We celebrate the many hards, hearts, and minds that make Nelson Arts Festival unique to our region.
Following 24 successful years, in 2018 the Nelson City Council moved the Nelson Arts Festival into a community-based, autonomous organisation to continue its growth.
The Nelson Arts Festival is now under the governance of the Nelson Festivals Trust, a registered charity.
The Nelson Arts Festival is now under the governance of the Nelson Festivals Trust, a registered charity.
Nelson Arts Festival Team
Ruth Roebuck
(she/her/ia)
General Manager
Janelle Bish
(she/her/ia)
Artistic Director
Rose McGrannachan
(she/her/ia)
Head of Operations
Kerry Sunderland
(she/her/ia)
Pukapuka Talks Programme Lead
Lil della Porta
(she/they/ia)
Marketing & Communications Lead
Technical and Delivery Team
JR Richardson
(he/him/ia)
Technical & Production Manager | Head of Sound
Antony Hodgson
(he/him/ia)
Head of Projection | Deputy Technical & Production Manager
Wendy Clease
(she/her/ia)
Head of Lighting
Lydia Hannah Thomas
(they/she/ia)
Programme Coordinator & Artist Liaison
Maria Anderson
(she/her/ia)
Audience Experience Coordinator | Access Coordinator
Sam Cole
(he/him/ia)
Mask Carnivale Project Manager
Rosie Pidd
(she/her/ia)
Mask Carnivale Coordinator
Festival Technical Team & Crew
Small but mighty team from Whakatū and around Aotearoa
Nelson Festivals Trust
Ali Boswijk (Board Chair)
Johny O'Donnell (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri)
Sarah Yarrow
Luke Acland
The Trustees have combined experience in governance, business, central and local government, and arts promotion and management.
The Trustees would like to thank all previous Board members for their contribution, advice and support of the Trust and the Festival: Brent Thawley, Cynthia Greep, Zoe Palmer, Johannah Kātene-Burge (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Tama), Gemma Laing, Debbie Hannan, Sarah Sharp, Caroline Marshall and Pic Picot.
The Trustees would like to thank all previous Board members for their contribution, advice and support of the Trust and the Festival: Brent Thawley, Cynthia Greep, Zoe Palmer, Johannah Kātene-Burge (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Tama), Gemma Laing, Debbie Hannan, Sarah Sharp, Caroline Marshall and Pic Picot.