Our Festival Whānau of Friends
Mā te huruhuru,
ka rere te manu.
Adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly.
Become part of
Nelson Arts Festival's future
As a not-for-profit, we rely on the generosity of our community to keep the Festival ambitious, accessible, and deeply connected to the place we call home.
In 2026, we’re excited to launch our new Friends programme - a way for individuals who love the Festival to support its future and connect more closely with the work we do.
There are three levels of support - Kakaruai, Kāhu and Whio - each offering a different way to contribute.
Your support helps bring artists to Whakatū, provide development opportunities for local artists, keep ticket prices within reach, create shared Festival moments across the city, and build a stronger future for the arts in our region.
Why support us?
Nelson Arts Festival belongs to Whakatū
Each annual Festival brings creativity into our theatres, galleries, streets, schools and shared spaces. It creates moments that stay with people long after the final performance, from a favourite artist or unforgettable show to a new idea, a conversation, or a reason to gather with friends.
Ticket sales alone do not cover the cost of delivering our ambitious regional arts festival, and support from our Festival community ensures we can continue creating exciting programmes that bring artists, audiences and the wider community together.
Your support helps us:
- Open the door (accessible tickets, under-25 tickets, and community access)
- Bring the artists here (artist travel, accommodation, fees and manaakitanga)
- Keep the city buzzing (free events, public activations and street-level Festival energy)
- Back new work (commissions, local artists, residencies, and kaupapa Māori programming)
- Support the next chapter (long term Festival sustainability).
Become a Friend of the Festival
Friends of the Festival are people who believe in the role the arts play in our city and region and want to help the Festival continue to thrive.
Depending on your level of support, Friends receive:
- Early access to Festival tickets
- Festival updates and artist news
- invitations to Festival briefings, artist talks or supporter events
- recognition on the Festival website or programme
- reserved seating where available
- opportunities to connect more closely with the work your support makes possible