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Current Executive Committee
Barbara Franklet (Community, Chair) Lee Woodman (Community, Secretary) Vicki Charles (Community, Treasurer) Nick Haig (Community) Veronica Martin (Community) Axel de Maupeou (Community) Elaine Ang (Community) Anne Pokel (Community) Josephine Cachemaille (Community) Mayor Rachel Reese (Nelson City Council Liaison Appointee) ACN Staff Lloyd Harwood (Community Arts Manager) Heidi Lucas (Administrator) Ann Braunsteiner (Refinery ArtSpace Manager) Arts Council Nelson History Nearly 40 years ago the predecessor of the current Arts Council Nelson was founded. A small number of enthused Nelsonians produced a potpourri of cultural entertainment called the Nelson Event including Jazz, films, poetry, folk, singing and visual art exhibitions. The same group joined with others in setting up the Nelson Provincial Arts Council. People involved in these early days were Chris Hay, Eelco Boswijk, Geoff Heath, Dave Andrews and Sonya Davies. In 1969 the Nelson Provincial Arts Council (NPAC) was founded, with the following founding objective: “To encourage, promote and coordinate the study, practice and enjoyment of the arts in the province of Nelson and to promote and encourage the public awareness of their existence, their function and their value in the community.” Nelson continued to be at the forefront of developing the arts: The Nelson City Council was the first local authority to allocate 0.7 % of general rates to the arts – the NPAC was nominated to administer these funds In 1976 the first Nelson Arts Festival took place; grants to over $22,000 were allocated to assist touring performances in Nelson. The cultural calendar in the Nelson Mail changes from monthly to weekly. The 1980s saw another new direction for ACN under the guidance of Chairperson John Wheeler. Working virtually full-time in a voluntary capacity, John encouraged the organisation to take on paid staff. In 1982 paid staffing became available on a permanent basis with the appointment of Claudia Reid as the first Community Arts Officer. Paid staffing signalled a marked change in the nature of the organisation, as it greatly expanded the scope and range of activities the Arts Council could undertake. As a consequence seeds were sown and projects nurtured which facilitated the growth of Nelson into the prime arts and cultural destination it has now become. The benefits of the full-time appointment have been maintained through the following personnel until the present day. Claudia Reid (1982 - 83) Jennifer Brett (1983 - 84) Robbie Burton (1984 - 90) Trix Dyer (1990 - 1996) Mags Meechang (1996 - 1998) Lloyd Harwood (1998 - present) |
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