Arts Council Nelson

19/03/2026

The Elevation of Hip Hop! Crisps Lane this Saturday.
6.30 - 9.30pm
Family Friendly!

Nelson this one's for the community and any one intrigued come witness hip hop Knelly styles we bring the heat Everytime DJs MC's and GRAFFITI ARTIST live and direct in a safe positive environment all ages free entry alcohol free free snacks and non alcoholic beverages free ice blocks and sausage sizzle.

18/03/2026

Mana Toi Mana Tāngata

Presented by Āwhio Toi Manatōpū

Refinery ArtSpace

This exhibition brings together Toi Māori artists from across Te Tauihu whose work reflects both traditional foundations and contemporary expression. Here, ancestral knowledge and modern practice sit alongside one another — a living conversation between past, present, and future.

Carleen Heemi - Connor Fitzpatrick - Diana Kohu - Frank Wells - Karen Wells - Louisa Paul - Natalie Kere - Paul Nankievell - Rory Hayes - Shanell Kelly - Hamuera Manihera - Tania Smith
Zerlina Kohu - Donna McLeod - Liani Ahere - Atawhai Teaukura - Stuart Kere -
Hoani Broughton Hippolite - Michaela Lobban - Ronald (Roni) Petley - Lovey Elkington - Heni Cook and Matepo Hemi (Hura Kakahu)

Āwhio Toi Manatōpū, as kaitiaki of this kaupapa and collective of ringatoi, extend our heartfelt appreciation to our partners — Nelson City Council, Rātā Foundation, and Indevin Villa Maria. Through their support, this exhibition stands as a living expression of Mana Toi, Mana Tāngata — honouring the creativity of our people and the strength.

E hara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. Our success is not of one, but of many.

18th March—18th April

Nelson City Council Nelson Tasman Uniquely Nelson Rātā Foundation

18/03/2026

Note, there has been a time change and something a little bit special...

HOT CHIPS is coming up again this FRIDAY.

Due to a clash with the opening night of Christopher Ulutupu's – "Multiples" exhibitionat the Suter, we are pushing the start time and finish back so that everyone can enjoy the best of both worlds...

HOT CHIPS is a monthly event to network, chinwag, make new friends and connect the funky people of Whakatū, run by Arts Council Nelson and hosted at Project 100.

All are welcome - whether you’re an old hat or new to the area, come by to enjoy connecting with like-minded people. BYO beverage & BYO chair (if you wish to sit).

See you there !

09/03/2026

Day 6 is Tuesday 10 March.

That means we're half way through our 2026 Fringe already! We should all celebrate by buying a Fringe tea towel. $20 at Fringy HQ as well as Red Door Theatre (box office opens at 5pm).

Today we have 7 shows in 4 venues!

Fringe HQ is open every day from 12noon to 4pm - drop in for a chat, buy tickets, buy merch! Fringe HQ is at Refinery ArtSpace at 114 Hardy St.

5.30pm - Bones at WAA! Club
7.00pm - Opera’s Bad Girl: Anna Bishop, the World’s First Daringly Defiant Diva at Red Door Theatre
6.00pm - The Night Ali Died at Refinery ArtSpace
6.00pm - Me vs Myself at Yaza Cafe
7.30pm - Alice in Retirementland at Red Door Theatre
7.30pm - Ben Miller: Volcano at Yaza Cafe
9.00pm - Pub Tales at Yaza Cafe (this is Chris from the UK, also doing The Night Ali Died at 6pm - two shows on one night - if he can - you can!)

Tix $18 +bf
Info & bookings at www.nelsonfringe.co.nz

Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

04/03/2026

It's Opening Day! Here's what's happening tonight on Thur 5 March...

9 shows in 4 venues!

6.00pm - Born in the Mediterranean at Red Door Theatre
6.00pm - Peek-A-Boo Moments at Refinery ArtSpace
6.00pm - Jerome Chandrahasen presents: On Words - 2026 Nelson Fringe Festival at Yaza Cafe
7.30pm - Can't Hear Her Voice at Red Door Theatre
7.30pm - My Life is Based on a True Story – Round 2 at Refinery ArtSpace
7.30pm - LaFev | A Comedy at Yaza Cafe
7.30pm - Petit ChouX at WAA! Club
9.00pm - Alice May Connolly’s BOX at Red Door Theatre
9.00pm - The Death of Rugby at Yaza Cafe

Tix $18 +bf
Info & booking at www.nelsonfringe.co.nz

Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

03/03/2026

Trade the digital for the physical.

✨ Make It Nelson is officially open for bookings!
https://makeitnelson.co.nz/

This month-long programme from Arts Council Nelson puts artists, makers, and innovators front and centre, leading hands-on workshops across the city — where you’ll create something from go-to-whoa in just three hours.

From fine woodworking to ni**le pasties, spoon carving to silver rings — June is your month to get off the screen and make something real.

Make a weekend of it.
Gather your friends, plan a mother–daughter escape, or book a creative getaway and experience Nelson through making.

Slow down. Get creative. Go home with something uniquely yours.

The countdown to June starts now.

26/02/2026

Support Te Tauihu filmmakers and creatives at this special fundraising screening, helping send two of our crew (Hariata Wilson and Liss Spratt) to Melbourne Women in Film Festival for the Australian premiere of their micro short film, Herekore.

"Attending this festival will give them the opportunity to participate in feature and short film screenings, panel discussions, workshops, education programs and network with fellow filmmakers and industry professionals.

Alongside the screening of Herekore, the acclaimed visual poem by Hariata Wilson (Ngāti Kuia), the evening celebrates Te Tauihu storytellers with a curated selection of short docos from across the region, featuring work by Keelen Walker, Chris Ulutupu, Gabe Bertogg, Liss Spratt, Trevor Montgomery, Jonny Eagle & Claire Watson.

Experience bold local stories, uplift indigenous and Takatāpui voices and connect with our creative community. Join us for an evening of cinema, celebration, and supporting Te Tauihu storytellers as they endeavour to share their work on an international stage.

Anything raised over their goal will go towards the production of our next short film to be completed by December 2026."
Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman Nelson City Council
.noise.media .nz .nz

26/02/2026

Join Hikitia! in shaping Ordinary Wonders 2026 – where memory becomes art, and art becomes social change.

This kaupapa invites our community to share the small, powerful moments that shape daily life - the gestures, connections, and experiences that tie us to whānau, culture, community, and place. Hikitia! welcomes story submissions from anyone willing to share an everyday moment that holds meaning, and we invite all artists - whether amateurs, those just beginning their creative journey, or experienced practitioners working professionally across any artform – to express their interest in transforming these stories into uplifting works of art. We are open to submissions in all artforms. Create in the medium that best expresses your creative self.

Submissions for both groups close at the end of April.

In Phase Two, participating artists will each receive an “ordinary wonders” story from someone in our community and create an artwork inspired by it. These works will be exhibited at Refinery ArtSpace (In the new space!), with the original and selected reproductions gifted back to the storyteller. Artists will receive koha for materials and opportunities for promotion throughout the exhibition and its online platforms.

Submit an Expression of Interest:

If you would like to share your story or are an artist interested in contributing to Ordinary Wonders, please submit an expression of interest by:

Completing the form via the provided link, or
Emailing [email protected] with “Ordinary Wonders – Expression of Interest” in the subject line.

Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman Nelson City Council RISE: Respect Inspire Support Empower

10/02/2026

The Nelson City Crochet Canopy is up!

Tucked away in Crisps Lane you’ll find a special piece of Whakatū – look up and you’ll see over 10 metres of crochet created by the crocheters of Nelson!

Over the last four months 10 ‘Learn to Crochet’ classes have taken place in Nelson & Tasman, over 150 people have donated items, and eight beautiful 2mx2m panels of crochet have been sewn together.

Fabulous crochet has been flooding in from the people of Whakatū, and an estimated 1500 hours have gone into making the panels - it’s been a collaborative community arts project on an epic scale!

The Crochet Canopy Project is a summer installation, remaining in Crisps Lane for 4-6 weeks, so drop in and enjoy it while you can! Crisps Lane is a public thoroughfare, so please watch out for cars!

Crisps Lane is located on Hardy Street, next to the Refinery ArtSpace and The Spice Curry Kitchen and often referred to as Rutherford Mews.


Lead Artist Heidi Lucas and collaborators have done an amazing job creating a magical immersive experience. Don't miss it!

Thank You’s …
To NCC for funding the Crochet Canopy Project and to Arts Council Nelson for administering the grant.
To the crocheters of Whakatū – for creating and donating over 650 pieces of crochet.
My special thanks to Kath Bartha, Sue Heydon, Karen Harvey, Joanne Oakes and Rosemery Hemsworth for their hours and hours of sewing.
Lee Woodman and Rob Lucas for installing the canopy.
A huge thank you also to Thompson Property Group and Maryam Zadeh for supporting this project.

Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

13/01/2026

We are very much looking forward to this!

Come and hear a dynamic young string quartet perform a free 45min concert Refinery ArtSpace. We welcome everyone to come along, and bring anyone you think might be curious to hear some classical music in a relaxed environment.

The Antipodes Quartet is part of the Fellowship Ensemble Programme, a joint venture between the Adam Chamber Music Festival, New Zealand String Quartet and Chamber Music New Zealand, as a career-development experience offered to four of this country’s most promising young string players. Over the course of two years, the group receives training at the Adam Summer School, career advice by the management of the NZSQ, a tour by Chamber Music New Zealand and are featured around town and on stage at the Adam Chamber Music Festival.

The Antipodes Quartet are Eden Annesley (violin), Mana Waiariki (violin), Tal Amoore (viola) and Lavinnia Rae (cello). .

There are five free public performances:
Nelson Library - Fri 30 January at 1pm
Project 100 Gallery - Fri 30 January at 5.30pm
Nelson Market - Sat 31 January at 9.30am
The Refinery ArtSpace - Sat 31 January at 11.30am
The Suter Art Gallery - Wed 4 February at 1pm

The Antipodes Quartet will also be doing a very special performance at The Brook Sanctuary on Tue 3 February at 5.30pm. On this occasion, Brook Waimārama Sanctuary are welcoming everyone at local prices: Adult $16.50; Child $10.50; Family $36.83

For more information on Adam Chamber Music Festival, go to www.music.org.nz

Photo: Melissa Banks

08/01/2026

Our awesome friends at Community Art Works need your help!

You can really make a difference in many peoples lives...

Fundraising for Community Art Works