2024 Festival Archive
24 October - 3 November 2024
Wrap Video time! Walk down memory lane with us:
Our 2024 Festival captured in 120 seconds. Wow - it's been amazing, and an incredible celebration of our 30th birthday.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, from funders and partners, volunteers and crew, to our awe-inspiring artists.
Captured and produced by our festival partners Innit Creative.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, from funders and partners, volunteers and crew, to our awe-inspiring artists.
Captured and produced by our festival partners Innit Creative.
DEVILLE MUSIC HUB
Opening Weekend
Deville Music Hub | Thurs 24, Fri 25, Sat 26
Doors Open 8pm | Support Act 8.30pm | Main Act 9.30pm
HOUSING FOR ALL
Jade Kake, Henrietta Bollinger + Miriana Stephens
Suter Theatre
Fri 25 Oct | 12.30pm | 60 min
KO AU TE AWA, KO TE AWA KO AU – I AM THE RIVER, THE RIVER IS ME
People + Water Series
Suter Theatre
Mon 28 Oct | 4pm | 86min
MYTHS, MAGIC, FANTASY & TIME TRAVEL
Lauren Keenan, Rachael King + Claire Mabey
Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Public Library
Thurs 24 Oct | School booking
Elma Turner Library
Fri 25 Oct | School booking
OTHERHOOD: CHILDLESS, CHILDFREE & CHILD ADJACENT
Kathryn van Beek, Iona Winter, Henrietta Bollinger + Lily Duval
Suter Theatre
Fri 25 Oct | 5.30pm | 60 min
RHOMBUS
with ALVARO MORENO
Deville Music Hub
Sat 26 Oct
Doors Open 8pm | Support Act 8.30pm | Main Act 9.30pm
SHEPHERDS REIGN
with SHUV-IT
Deville Music Hub
Thurs 24 Oct
Doors Open 8pm | Support Act 8.30pm | Main Act 9.30pm
SLIP
Rebecca Jensen with Aviva Endean
Suter Theatre
Wed 23 Oct, 6.30pm + Thurs 24 Oct, 8pm | 50 min
SOUND AND MOVEMENT WORKSHOP: Old St Johns Hall
Thurs 24 Oct | 1pm | PWYC ($11.50 – $17.50)
SOUNDS OF THE SANCTUARY
New Zealand String Quartet
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary
Mon 28 Oct | 12pm + 4pm | 100 min (Act One: 45 mins | Interval: 10 mins | Act Two: 45 mins)
THABANI GAPARA
with BRAZILIAN SOCIAL CLUB
Deville Music Hub
Fri 25 Oct
Doors Open 8pm | Support Act 8.30pm | Main Act 9.30pm
Koha
TUHAYMANI’CHI PAL WANIQA (THE WATER FLOWS ALWAYS)
People + Water Series
Suter Theatre
Mon 28 Oct | 3.30pm | 20min
UNSETTLED
Cristina Sanders + Lauren Keenan
Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Public Library
Tues 29 Oct | 6pm | 60 min
VICTORY POETRY SLAM II
Sheldon Rua + Talia Stanley
WORKSHOP: Victory Community Centre
Sun 27 Oct | 12.30pm | 120 min | Koha
PERFORMANCE: Victory Boxing
Sun 27 Oct | 5pm | 75 min | PWYC
Curatorial Statement
2024 Nelson Arts Festival Team
Lydia Zanetti
(they/them/ia)
Executive & Artistic
Director
Director
Annie Pokel
(she/her/ia)
Head of Creative & Communications
Rose McGrannachan
(she/her/ia)
Head of Business & Operations
Kerry Sunderland
(she/her/ia)
Pukapuka Talks Programme Manager | Development Manager
Olivia Flanagan
(she/they/ia)
Access Coordinator | Programme Coordinator
JR Richardson
(he/him/ia)
Technical & Production Manager | Head of Sound
Michelle Lafferty | Elephant Publicity
(she/her/ia)
Festival Publicist
Antony Hodgson
(he/him/ia)
Head of Projection | Deputy Technical & Production Manager
Maria Anderson
(she/her/ia)
Audience Experience Coordinator
Wendy Clease
(she/her/ia)
Head of Lighting
Natalie Gilberd
(she/her/ia)
Marketing Coordinator
Sam Cole
(he/him/ia)
Mask Carnivale Project Manager
Sylvan Thomson
(he/him/ia)
Tamariki & Rangatahi Programme Coordinator
Rosie Pidd
(she/her/ia)
Mask Parade Coordinator
Small but mighty team from around Aotearoa
Festival Technical Team & Crew
Nelson Festivals Trust
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, Zoe Palmer, Johannah Kātene-Burge (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Tama), 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, Zoe Palmer, Johannah Kātene-Burge (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Tama), Debbie Hannan, Sarah Sharp, Caroline Marshall and Pic Picot.
Ali Boswijk (Board Chair)
A broadcaster by profession, Ali (she/her/ia) has been involved with arts in Nelson since moving to New Zealand in 1996. She ran the Nelson Bays Arts Marketing Trust, is a former Deputy Mayor of Nelson City Council, and the former Head of International and Business Development for WOW. She is now Chief Executive of Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce.
Cynthia Greep
Cynthia (she/her/ia) is from Tasman and works nationwide as an employment relations / HR consultant with an emphasis on dispute resolution. She is a trained NZ mediator across a range of forums including employment. Cynthia supports the Trust with HR and Contractor oversight and is experienced in operational and strategic HR matters. Her work as an HR Specialist at NZ School Trustees has given her wide experience across the education sector and a strong understanding of governance.
Johny O'Donnell (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri)
Born and raised here in Te Tauihu, Johny (he/him/ia) draws his identity from Hokianga in the Far North as well as Irish, Scottish, and Pākēhā ancestry. He has a background in communications and runs his own strategy and consulting firm OD&Co which is based here in Whakatū Nelson. Johny has extensive experience in economic and community development, including delivering regional initiatives such as the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy and Project Kōkiri.
He is passionate about the potential of arts and culture in Te Tauihu, particularly championing and supporting the growth of Ngā Toi Māori. He was involved in the creation of the city's arts and creativity strategy He Tātai Whetū and has been supporting the development of an iwi-led approach to Toi Māori in the region. As a massive Nelson Arts Festival groupie, he excited to give back to the festival that gives so much to Whakatū Nelson.
He is passionate about the potential of arts and culture in Te Tauihu, particularly championing and supporting the growth of Ngā Toi Māori. He was involved in the creation of the city's arts and creativity strategy He Tātai Whetū and has been supporting the development of an iwi-led approach to Toi Māori in the region. As a massive Nelson Arts Festival groupie, he excited to give back to the festival that gives so much to Whakatū Nelson.
Gemma Laing
Gemma (she/her/ia) is a born and bred Nelsonian with a passion for the arts, and a life-long interest in dance. Having run a dance studio until 2016, she has been involved in sourcing and preparing entertainment for many community, sporting and cultural events, and taught both performing arts and dance in numerous schools. With a diploma in performing arts, she has coached competitive dancers to the world championships. Currently she works in the events industry running nationwide dance events, competitions and showcases.
Gemma has also worked on the Fringe Festival, International Arts Festival, Cuba Street Carnival and WOW, as well as the opening Entertainment for the All Blacks test matches and Bledisloe Cup.
Her board experience includes being the current vice chair of the First Years Community pre-school board and she is a member of the national dance board -Street Dance New Zealand.
Gemma has also worked on the Fringe Festival, International Arts Festival, Cuba Street Carnival and WOW, as well as the opening Entertainment for the All Blacks test matches and Bledisloe Cup.
Her board experience includes being the current vice chair of the First Years Community pre-school board and she is a member of the national dance board -Street Dance New Zealand.
Sarah Yarrow
Sarah (she/her/ia) has over 20 years experience in local government focused on community wellbeing, arts and the environment and was involved in arts management with the Salisbury International Arts Festival in the United Kingdom. Sarah has a professional interest in good governance and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.
Sarah is a founding board member of the Nelson Festivals Trust and was part of the group that assessed and recommended how the Festival could be moved successfully from council to community governance and management. She has had a life-long involvement in the arts, growing up in a family heavily involved in the am dram scene in provincial New Zealand.
Sarah is a founding board member of the Nelson Festivals Trust and was part of the group that assessed and recommended how the Festival could be moved successfully from council to community governance and management. She has had a life-long involvement in the arts, growing up in a family heavily involved in the am dram scene in provincial New Zealand.
Luke Acland
Luke (he/him/ia) is a lawyer and partner of one of Nelson’s oldest established law firms Rout Milner Fitchett. The firm specialises in corporate and commercial matters and Luke is primarily the litigation partner with emphasis on employment/industrial and general commercial disputes. Luke was a Nelson City Councillor for two terms before joining the RMF partnership and he currently holds various governance roles including the boards of local charitable orgainsations and school board of trustees. Luke has been involved in the performing arts from a young age and obtained an undergraduate degree in art history. Luke has recently taken up fishing after relentless pressure from his children and it’s good fun.