Celebrating 30 Years AF!

As you know, 2024 marks the 30th Nelson Arts Festival – a big milestone birthday for us, and we are celebrating in a multitude of ways, from sharing photos to an oral history project (more on this below). As the pou (pillars) of our Festival are, and have always been, our artists and YOU, our community here in Whakatū and Te Tauihu (and beyond!), we’d love to invite you to contribute to our celebrations – and a move towards a bold vision for the next 30 years of unmissable arts experiences. 

As part of our celebrations, we’re digging deep into the archives and are interviewing a group of amazing humans who have been involved with the Festival since its very beginning, and have helped grow and shape it – from the igniting sparks in the 1980s and the first festival around WoW until today.

Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua |
Looking to the future with our hearts filled with the past

Paraphrasing this beautiful whakataukī which reminds us that the past, the present and the future are  intertwined, and that the first 30 years of Nelson Arts Festivals will guide us into the Festival’s future. 

Please follow along in the coming weeks as we’re sharing Oral History podcasts, share favourite memories of festival team members past and present, and invite YOU to contribute your most-enjoyed festival moments and photos with us. 

This festival is for and with you, arts lovers, please celebrate our milestone birthday with us!