Love Letters to Bridge St - Call to action....
Arts Council Nelson and Make/Shift Spaces are currently seeking expressions of interest from community artists and volunteers to be involved in this creative community project celebrating the stories, people and character of Bridge Street.
We are looking for people who would like to contribute creative ideas, assist with making, installation support, community engagement and general event help. No specific experience is required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.
For more information or to express interest, please contact: info@makeshiftspaces.nz
You can also find out more about Make/Shift Spaces and other partner projects here:
Community Events Funding
Funding available towards events that contribute to Community wellbeing and cohesion of the local community. Next round closes on 9th July.
See full details here: https://www.nelson.govt.nz/5community/3funding/community/community-events-fund
Richmond Comedy Club
First Wednesday of the month - Open mic and featured comedians - new comedians welcomed.
Come to watch, come to perform or both…. Free entry. Contact: comedychris@outlook.co.nz or follow on FB here
CCS Local Arts Funding - Call for applications..
See full details, application guides and forms here: https://www.acn.org.nz/funding
Pushing Clay - Forsyth Barr Ceramics Awards
Closing date for Submissions - 21st August 2026.
Full details here: https://www.acn.org.nz/pushingclay
Jewellery Workshops
Workshops for all ages and skill levels. See what’s on offer and coming up…
Tasman National Art Awards - Call for entries…
Exhibition open to the public Sunday 27th September 9.30am to 4.30pm daily through to Saturday 10th October at the Mapua Community Hall.
Closing date for entries 28th June see full details here:
International Art Award
See full details here: https://event.esunbank.com.tw/mkt/drawesun/esunbank_en.html
Make it Nelson
80 workshops over four weekends…..
Full programme here: https://makeitnelson.co.nz/
Poetry? - at WAA!
For biffins and beginners, amateurs and poetry curious..
All welcome every first Saturday of the month.
Changing Threads is back in 2026
Changing Threads is back for 2026!
This Contemporary Fibre & Textile Art Awards and Exhibition will take place between 6th June - 18th July 2026 at the Refinery ArtSpace.
Ordinary Wonders 2026 Call Out
Call for Artists and Storytellers for a community collaborative exhibition
Ordinary Wonders Project – Invitation to Share Memories and Register as an Artist
Ordinary Wonders is a community arts project exploring the small moments that build connection, safety, wellbeing, and belonging across Te Tauihu.
Hikitia! is inviting people with a connection to Te Tauihu to share memories of parenting, grandparenting, caregiving, godparenting, or being parented in this region. Just a few sentences are enough. A shared memory could be a moment of laughter, a family tradition, or time spent together in a place that matters to you.
These memories will inspire artworks created by local artists and exhibited as part of Ordinary Wonders at the new Nelson Arts Hub in August 2026. The artwork inspired by each story will then be gifted back to the contributor at no cost.
Please follow the links to join the project:
Creative Transformations: Upcycled Fashion Show
Over 70 entries across all categories – it’s going to be a fantastic evening of entertainment and creativity, with an important message about sustainable clothing. Tickets prices: $20 adult, $5 child (under 16), $40 family (2 adults and 2 children) + booking fee from https://events.humanitix.com/creative-transformations-upcycled-fashion-show
Toiere – presented by NZ Opera
Following its acclaimed debut at the Auckland Arts Festival, Toiere comes to Nelson, bringing a powerful fusion of cultures and sound. This extraordinary concert reimagines iconic operatic masterpieces through a unique blend of original languages and te reo Māori, transforming familiar arias into a new, deeply affecting experience that could only come from Aotearoa.
Full details and bookings here: https://ncma.nz/event/toiere-presented-by-nz-opera/
Bringing Back Tertulia - Fundraiser
This event is open to artists, storytellers, musicians, and anyone who appreciates cultural expression. Whether you want to perform, share your work, or simply listen, your presence adds to the experience and your ticket purchase helps to keep the community glowing. see full details here: https://events.humanitix.com/bringing-back-tertulia-a-cultural-conversations-fundraiser
'Mug Off' Competition and Exhibition
See full entry details here: https://thecoolstoregallery.co.nz/pages/mug-off
Nelson Clay Week 2026
October 3-9, 2026 See full details here: https://www.clayweek.co.nz/
MAKE IT AT THE CATHEDRAL - AN EPIC CO-CREATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE
Let your creativity flow in the awesomeness of Nelson Cathedral.
Surrounded by the rich, neo-classical sounds of Nile Street Project and guided by Creative Arts Therapist Lynda Jessen-Tye, this immersive, large-scale creative experience invites you to participate in the expressive arts in response to the music offered. No experience of art making is needed and the opportunity is to sink into the process of creating rather than focusing on a finished product.
Nile Street Project’s evocative music, paired with beautifully crafted lighting, will create a deeply atmospheric environment where art, sound and space come together.
See full details of this and other great opportunities here:
Ireland The Voyage at the Theatre Royal
See full details of this and other shows here: https://www.theatreroyalnelson.co.nz/
NZ Music Month
See what’s happening here and around the motu… https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/tours-festivals/2026/nz-music-month-te-marama-puoro-aotearoa?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ef_news&utm_campaign=2618&utm_content=content
Hands up for Care & Connection
As part of Hands Up for Hospice Month, we invite you to join a small Care and Connect gathering — a gentle space to slow down, share tea and kai, and connect with the women of Global Stitch Up. This relaxed session offers a chance to pamper yourself while learning from talented wahine in our community: meet Fernanda, who will share her nail care expertise, JingJing, who will offer a soothing hand massage using traditional Chinese tools and her own handmade balm, and Shakeela, who will introduce you to the beauty of Mendhi (henna), its designs, and their cultural origins. Come for the care, stay for the connection, and help support our local Hospice
For more details and to RSVP visit: https://www.culturalconversations.co.nz/event-details/hands-up-for-care-and-connection
Otago Arts Fellowships
Open for practitioners in visual arts, music composition, writing and community dance….. see full details here:
https://www.otago.ac.nz/humanities/about/otago-fellows/applications
Jasmine Jessen
Nelson-raised soprano Jasmine Jessen returns home for a special concert at the NCMA, joined by pianist Sarah Watkins. The programme offers a rich journey through art song and opera, from the lush romanticism of Rachmaninoff to Benjamin Britten’s song cycle On This Island. Audiences will also be treated to a selection of beloved operatic arias by Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti, Puccini, and Verdi. Book tickets here: https://ncma.nz/event/jasmine-jessen/
Fabic a Brac Nelson
Fabric-a-brac is a fun fabric and sewing supplies market where you can shop for vintage and modern sewing and upholstery fabric, patterns, haberdashery and more. It brings the sewing community together to share stashes, stories and delight in our mutual love of textiles.
Fabric-a-brac is volunteer-run, and is a fundraiser for hospice – in Nelson this is Nelson Tasman Hospice. All profits from this event are donated to their work.
If you have a stash you’d like to sell, you can come and take a stall. You pay a stallholder fee (which goes to Hospice) but anything you make on the day is yours to keep.
If you have fabric, haberdashery or patterns you’d like to move on, but don’t want to have a table, you can donate items. This will all go onto the hospice table on the day, and all profits will go to their wonderful work. You can donate to any Nelson Tasman Hospice shop.
More here: https://fabricabrac.com/nelson/
Nelson Civic Choir - Choral Kaleidoscope
A landmark concert experience from the Nelson Civic Choir under the direction of Music and Artistic Director Jason Balla. Presented in an enhanced digital and multimedia format, this innovative production will transform the traditional choral concert into a richly immersive event, combining powerful live performance with visual and digital storytelling. Details and bookings here: https://nz.patronbase.com/_NelsonCentreOfMusicalArts/Productions/CHKL/Performances
Art Workshops with Larisse Hall
See full details here: https://www.larissehallartist.com/art-/-painting-classes
He Ngaki Mara by Keri-Mei Zagrobelna
Join us for an artist talk on 9th May and/or sign up for the ‘Making with the Maramataka’ workshops on the 16th May. Full details here: https://www.project100.co.nz/whats-on
Architecture & Design Film Festival 2026
Presenting the best architecture and design films to New Zealand cinemas.
See full programme here: https://www.statecinemas.co.nz/radff/
Oceania Pacific Arts Residency - Call for Expressions of interest
The six-week residency will bring together one senior artist from each country, providing time and space to develop new work focused on climate change and its impact across the Pacific.
EOI’s close on 4th June 2026.
See full details, terms and conditions and how to apply here: https://creativenz.govt.nz/funding-and-support/all-opportunities/oceania-pacific-arts-residency
PAYPA Creative Residency 2026 - Call for EOI's
Performing Arts and Young People - work development opportunity. See details here: https://forms.gle/ftvjJhBcFdkwemTU8
An arts strategy for Tasman - have your say...
Contact Gary Smith at: wangapeka@gmail.com for more information
Internship Opportunities......
See full details here: https://www.tepoutheatre.nz/ako-pia-pilot/
Aotango Quintet
This is a collection of fine NZ musicians. The Quintet features violinist Andrew Beer (Concertmaster, Auckland Philharmonia), pianist Somi Kim (NZTrio), bassist Gordon Hill (Principal Bass, Auckland Philharmonia), jazz guitarist Sam Swindells, and world champion accordion Grayson Masefield. Lorelle McNaughton will be substituting for Somi Kim for this performance.
The quintet will captivate you with a riveting performance of tango and world music!
Have your say....
Te Ara Mana Tautika o nga Toi - Equity in the Arts Policy ; Community feedback sought.. More details here: www.creativenz.govt.nz/equityinthearts