Introducing our new Artistic Director
Nelson Festivals Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Janelle Bish as its new Artistic Director.
Janelle (she/her/ia) is a performing arts curator, producer, and director with a commitment to fostering creativity and community through the arts. Throughout her career, Janelle has worked in both programming and presenting roles and across a broad range of programme styles and platforms.
During her nine-year tenure with Auckland Live, Janelle led the Auckland Live Cabaret Season from its inception to becoming a highly anticipated fixture on the Auckland arts calendar. Works originally commissioned by Janelle for the Auckland Live Cabaret Season have already made it to Whakatū: for example, Fine Fatale’s FEVER: Return of the Ula and Rutene Spooner’s Thoroughly Modern Māui were celebrated elements of the 2022 Nelson Arts Festival.
In 2022, Janelle moved to Rotorua, taking on the role of Director of Performing Arts, leading the reopening of the newly refurbished Sir Howard Morrison Centre.
Janelle led the revitalisation of the Centre and has played an instrumental role in rebuilding audiences, curating diverse programming, and creating foundation opportunities for artists to showcase and develop their work. Under her leadership, the Centre became a cornerstone for bicultural excellence and community engagement.
A passionate advocate for the performing arts, Janelle is dedicated to creating platforms that empower artists, strengthen communities, and inspire audiences through transformative cultural experiences.
“I am thrilled about this exciting opportunity, taking the reigns as Artistic Director of Nelson Arts Festival. I can’t wait to immerse myself in the region, get to know the people and delve into the aspirations of the creative community,” says Janelle.
Ruth Roebuck, General Manager of Nelson Festivals Trust is clear that this is an important appointment as the organisation builds upon the recent thirtieth year celebrations and successes.
“Having recently launched our refreshed strategic plan, we will focus on our next evolution to draw talent, resources and ideas and further cement our long-term sustainability. Our programme should deliver an expanding audience, deeper local, regional and national collaborations as well as innovative and exciting content with a richness that meets our broad community needs.
Delivering the thirty-first Nelson Arts Festival in 2025, the Trust looks to the horizon, igniting sparks of transformation and inciting the power of creativity as a force for positive change. They fiercely stand as a champion for artists and the arts, a catalyst for crucial conversations, and a mirror to our moment in time.
Ali Boswijk, Chair of the Trust is delighted with this appointment,
“As the current guardians of the Nelson Arts Festival we are very aware of our responsibility to the community. The Arts Festival is a taonga, a vital element in the cultural calendar of the region, it activates the city and brings people together to share experiences and emotions. The role of Artistic Director is key to producing an event that touches the whole community, to maintain traditions while extending us into the future. We are thrilled to have Janelle on board, with the experience she brings, as we take our first step into the next thirty years.”