Nelson Arts Festival 2024 starts soon!

An unmissable line-up of over 50 events across 11 days for and with the whole community. The festival is designed to be inclusive of both D/deaf and hearing impaired as well as blind/low vision folks, with NZ Sign Language interpreters and audio descriptions available at a variety of events.

This year, we’re thrilled to offer NZ Sign Language interpretation across four different events, from world-class theatre and Pukapuka Talks to laugh-out loud comedy.

• Abby Howells | La Soupco | The Boathouse | Thurs 24 Oct | 8pm
• Housing For All | Suter Theatre | Fri 25 Oct | 12.30pm
• Be Like Billy? | Rutene Spooner | Theatre Royal | Fri 25 Oct | 6.30pm
• AIGA | Touch Compass | Theatre Royal | Tues 29 Oct | 6.30pm

Called ‘boundary breaking on many levels’ by Theatreview, AIGA by Touch Compass invites us to experience the world through a disability-led lens, using compelling theatre, dance, poetry and storytelling by a cast of outstanding performers to tell the life story of award-winning artist Lusi Faiva. The whole event is audio described, NZ Sign Language interpreted and invites Disabled and D/deaf communities, as well as older people to take priority seating close to, or even on the stage. These sections are reserved to allow audience members that are part of these communities access to connect and celebrate with Lusi (the lead artist).

For our blind and low-vision communities, we are offering a pre-recorded audio exhibition tour of Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole’s exhibition of crochet and light sculptures, Waka of Dreams: Punanga Pohewa at the Refinery ArtSpace. For theatre and cabaret lovers, Rutene Spooner’s tribute to Māori showmanship Be Like Billy? at the Theatre Royal will be audio-described (Fri 25 Oct) as well as AIGA by Touch Compass on Tues 29 Oct.

For the street party of the year, we’re introducing an access area at the Mask Carnivale to improve engagement with the iconic parade.

All three of the documentaries in the People & Water Series will be captioned.

All tickets to the Access Programme are Tier 1 automatically, and companion seats are provided.

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Contact Name: Nelson Arts Festival

Contact Email: [email protected]