Much like a black canvas, the white walls of Nelson’s brand-new arts hub hint at endless opportunities for the city’s creatives.
Named Tāwera, the hub formally opened on Friday morning, coming in under its $1.25 million budget.
The hub provides physical arts spaces, like workshops, galleries, and offices but, as the home of the city’s independent arts development agency, would also intended serve as a focal point for connecting and coordinating artistic activities across Nelson.
Hayley Samuel, a trustee of the arts development agency Hiwa (formerly Arts Council Nelson) said the hub would be “a place of possibility… where art is made, shared, and experienced together”.
“We look forward to seeing Tāwera filled with people, ideas, and creativity, and to the countless exhibitions, performances, workshops, activations, and collaborations that will grow from this space.”
Located at the former iSite at Millers Acre, the arts hub was not “off in some little corner” and would engage with all aspects of the city, aiding revitalisation efforts, said Mayor Nick Smith.
“Arts are part of Nelson’s DNA and our heritage… of which today’s opening is another significant step,” he said.
“It will be an incubator for the current, but also future, generations of artists and events that can really help our city.”
Hiwa will rent the space under a community lease, paying peppercorn rent until 30 June 2028, while sub-leases are established.
Sub-leasing revenue will help offset costs for Hiwa, with income shared with Nelson City Council to supports community use and financial sustainability.
Rohan O’Neill-Stevens was overseeing the transition of the Arts Council Nelson into Hiwa.
They said the hub was “as flexible and accommodating of whatever your imaginations can hold”, with various foldable walls on wheels to customise the interior as needed.
The arts hub delivers on a commitment in Nelson’s arts and creativity strategy, adopted in 2022, to provide a dedicated space to foster artistic collaboration and innovation, but the seeds of the idea were planted in 2019, they added.
In the Matariki cluster, Hiwa is the youngest star, known as the wishing star and represents the hopes and aspirations of the future.
In mātauranga Māori, Tāwera is the name for Venus.
“It’s about continuous transformation and reimagining moments that come together for a bright and beautiful exhibition, performance, event, and then fades back into the day or into the night, ready for the next activation,” Rohan said.
Tāwera’s first exhibition, Ordinary Wonders, will open on 15 August.
