Nelson Arts Festival programme launch

The Nelson Arts Festival is set to welcome the spring with twelve days of theatre, dance, music, cabaret, comedy, talks and community events.

The festival is based for the second year at Founders Heritage Park, where venues will be transformed into Mainstage - a large 400 seat theatre, and the Festival Granary Café for music, talks and forums.

Nelson City Council Festival Creative Director Annabel Norman said the village atmosphere at Founders Park had great feedback from locals and visitors last year. She said the festival this year was taking the theme of light:

“In this time of recession talk and environmental concerns we want to lighten the mood and bring some laughter into people’s lives with performances such The Kransky Sisters, La Sud, The Butler and our top international act, Belgian singer Micheline van Hautem,” she said. “There’s also the opportunity to be enlightened with new knowledge and a better understanding of our fellow humans through shows like Collapsing Creation, North:South, Whero’s New Net and talks from our guest writers and sculptors.”

Ms Norman said the Nelson Arts Festival grew stronger every year as a community event that celebrated creativity. She said in spite of hard times there was increased support from local sponsors and plenty for those on a tight budget.

“The community focus of the Nelson Arts Festival sets us apart from other regional festivals,” she said. “Schools are already working on their costumes for the Port Nelson Masked Parade, we will have daily performances from school groups at Westpac Red Square and we launch our own ukulele orchestra at the Big Sing where we all join in to close the festival at Founders on Labour Weekend Monday.”

In the city centre there are more performances at the Suter Theatre, Red Square in Trafalgar Street and Nelson Cathedral, as well as supporting exhibitions at the Nelson Provincial Museum and the Suter Gallery.

The programme for the 2009 Nelson Arts Festival will be launched at a function for guests, friends and sponsors this Friday night, August 7. Tickets go on sale on Saturday with an Early Bird discount of $5 per ticket for the first month of sales. There is also a Festival Friends’ discount offer for those buying tickets to several shows. ‘

The festival is now in its fifteenth year and is the only regional festival to be held annually. It is produced by the Nelson City Council as a celebration for locals and an added attraction for visitors.

ENDS