Important Programme Update: Nelson Arts Festival

We have some disappointing news to share with you all: due to the impact of the current Covid-19 outbreak and ongoing lockdown, we have made the difficult decision to cancel most of our 2021 shows and events.
Despite working hard throughout this time towards our 2021 offering, this outbreak and its alert level restrictions have created a situation where we had to assess not only what is possible, but what is the right thing to do by our community, our artists and our people at this moment in time.
The Festival’s kaupapa is focussed on caring for our community – and we have made our decision with this care in mind.
Looking out for the health and wellbeing of all those attending, performing and working at the Nelson Arts Festival, as well as our wider community, has to be our utmost priority.
We have made this decision now in order to be in the best position to provide clarity and support those most affected by these cancellations: our artists, technicians, producers and partners working and creating for the Festival. Delaying this decision further would put the Nelson Festivals Trust at jeopardy and risk our ability to sustain support for artists, staff, venues and our community long term. While we are deeply sad and disappointed to not be able to share all the incredible shows we had planned for this year’s Festival with you, we believe it is the right decision to make.
We are now working towards a scaled-back, locally-focused programme of events, including Mask Carnivale, Night Vision and Pukapuka Talks. Please head to our website for the full update – and: please remember to stay safe, be kind and look after one another.
Our love goes out to all our whānau still in lockdown, all the artists and creative professionals in our industry who have lost so much, to our essential workers pulling together for our community, and to everyone who is feeling the weight of it all. Let’s be there for one another, as much as we can.
Arohanui – kia kaha, kia atawhai, kia haumaru.
#NAF21 #nelsonartsfestival #nelson #whakatū #festival #toi #huitaurima #programme #connection #community
[ID: The Nelson Arts Festival logo and website url sit alongside the words ‘Important Programme update’, turquoise font on bright blue background.]

For those of you waiting for their refunds – thank you so much for your patience, we greatly appreciate it!
Every ticket holder will be contacted directly via email, and if you bought your tickets via credit card, the funds will be reimbursed directly to your card’s account.
Thank you for your kind messages and support after our sad announcement – it means the world to us! ?
#NAF21 #nelsonartsfestival #nelson #whakatū #festival #toi #huitaurima #programme #connection #community
[ID: A group of children with Sherlock Holmes checkered hats, ties and spy-glasses made from cardboard at the 2010 Mask Parade in Whakatū.]

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