 |
| Nelson Arts Festival announce changes |
The Nelson Arts Festival Trust, the Children, Teachers, the Team, Artists, Crew and the Nelson and Tasman Community are devastated that the Nelson Arts Festival has to make major changes due to Covid.
With heartfelt sadness the Nelson Arts Festival announced:
Nelson Arts Festival has made the difficult decision to cancel its community events Mask Carnivale and Night Vision; two more shows, PechaKucha and Couch Stories; as well as the majority of its Pukapuka Talks literary events.
From the very beginning of the planning period for the 2021 Festival, the Nelson Festivals Trust and Nelson Arts Festival Team developed contingency plans for various scenarios. With the ongoing situation of Covid Level restrictions, the Team and Trust must keep the safety and wellbeing of our artists, crew, and the community as a priority.
Chair of the Nelson Festivals Trust, Brent Thawley says, “In the light of this week’s Government update on the Covid Levels, it is with doubly heavy hearts that we are having to make further changes to what the Nelson Festivals Trust is able to deliver in 2021 while keeping our community safe.
“With the current government strategy rolling out over the next 4 to 8 weeks, we anticipate it is very unlikely that Whakatū will be at a level where we can safely deliver our vision. Because of this, we have had to make further tough decisions, including cancelling Whakatū’s festival-favourite, the Mask Carnivale, the majority of the Pukapuka Talks literary programme, Night Vision, PechaKucha and Couch Stories.”
Two of the Pukapuka Talks sessions will now be free online events (details below).
The leadership team of Co-Creative Directors Rose Campbell and Lydia Zanetti and Community and Education Director Shanine Hermsen are devastated at having to make this decision. “We held on tightly to a spark of hope that we might have been able to safely gather as a community, but sadly, we continue to face too much uncertainty.
“We know the Mask Carnivale has a particular significance to our community. It’s especially heart-breaking to have to cancel the parade knowing the many hours of preparation already done by so many schools and community groups.
“We’re also deeply saddened that out comprehensive Pukapuka Talks programme won’t happen, and will truly miss the influx of 33 writers, poets, and commentators sharing their stories and perspectives.
“The Trust and team share our huge disappointment with all artists, producers, crew, venues, funders, sponsors and audiences who have generously engaged with Nelson Arts Festival 2021, working together towards a spectacular experience for our community and everyone involved.
“What we take away from this is the incredible strength of collaboration, the connections we’ve built and the creativity we’ve experienced – together, we can look forward to 2022 and beyond.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank our valued funders and sponsors for your heartfelt support and ongoing encouragement, with particular thanks to our core supporter Nelson City Council.”
The Festival is continuing with plans to present a bespoke programme, including
two free digital sessions from the Pukapuka Talks programme:
- The Mirror Book (with Charlotte Grimshaw, chaired by Miro Bilbrough)
- Once Were Hippies (with Miro Bilbrough, chaired by Steve Braunias)
Plus:
- Writing Home: An Antidote to Feeling Stranded (our free digital project with commissioned writers including Hinemoana Baker, Paula Morris, Mohamed Hassan, Rajorshi Chakraborti & more to be announced)
Alongside these digital elements, the festival will present the following – all possible in Level 2:
- Pure Psychic Automatism (Ruby Solly’s writing workshop - Sold Out)
- Nelson City Centre ArtWalk Tour
- Through The Eye of Whakatū (Nelson Provincial Museum)
- Ano me He Wharepuungawerewere and Repose
- He Raranga Kōrero: Weaving Conversations (The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū
- Silver. Stone. Wood. Bone. (produced by Chamber Music NZ, please refer to them for further information)
The Festival is offering full refunds (including booking and credit card fees) to those who have purchased tickets to cancelled shows. Those who hold tickets to The Mirror Book and Once Were Hippies will also be eligible for a refund
Nelson Arts Festival 2021
Images for events in the revised 2021 Programme
pigeonpostnews.co.nz (Nelson Tasman Community News)
editor@pigeonpostnews@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment