Discover the HeART of Nelson, Labour Weekend 2015

Discover the HeART of Nelson, Labour Weekend 2015

Nelson Tasman: a region blessed with a Mediterranean climate, stunning scenery, easy access and a community of highly talented, creative individuals, making it a perfect leisure spot.

Come October, the region offers even more reasons to visit, discover and enjoy what’s special about the geographical centre of New Zealand. The country’s longest running regional arts festival - Nelson Arts Festival - offers 13 days of concerts and live music, more than 1500 artworks are on display/for sale at the Arts Expo Nelson, the region’s latest must-see attraction at New Zealand Classic Motorcycles holds its doors open for enthusiasts, historians and art lovers alike, and there isn’t a better time to cycle the Tasman’s Great Taste Trail and sample the culinary delicacies and visual delights of spring.

Nelson Arts Festival 14 – 26 October.
Spanning 13 magical days and nights this year’s festival offers a gobsmacking smorgasbord of local, national and international theatre, dance, music, and readers and writers talks in a range of unique venues throughout the region.

Started as a small collection of events to support the World of Wearable Arts, today the festival is a sophisticated celebration of global and national acts, hosting up to 140 visiting performers and artists and attracting over 12,000 people to ticketed events.

The first weekend of the festival will kick into action with the famous Nelson Arts Festival Masked Parade, the biggest parade in Australasia, which attracts about 5,000 participants and an estimated 20,000 spectators (over a third of the city’s population). After the parade is a massive street party, complete with food stalls, live bands and plenty of other family attractions in Nelson’s main street.

From then on, the festival is in full swing right through until Labour Weekend when festival goers can sample some big names of the New Zealand music scene, award-winning physical theatre from Germany, live poetry at the spectacular Mahana Vineyard and thought-provoking talks by well-known Kiwi authors.

Art Expo Nelson 24-26 October
For the small, industrious team behind Art Expo Nelson, such is the all-consuming enthusiasm for the event it seems a lifetime ago since the show was just a twinkle in their eyes. Now in its fourth year, the expo evolution has continued at a rapid pace with Project Manager, Nic Foster humbled by its popularity.

“It just keeps growing exponentially. More artists, more venue space, more visitors and more art sold. Art Expo Nelson just seems to be one of those events that has mass appeal. But I think that’s the power of art for you. Even people who profess to be nonplussed by it will invariably discover an artwork they are passionate about. “

“Art Expo Nelson is the South Island’s premier art event. For the artists, a chance to showcase their talents. For the public, a chance to be absorbed by the power of art on a large scale. And picturesque Nelson makes the perfect background for any artwork."

The 2014 Expo hosted some 6,200 visitors over the three days and organisers expect this year’s event to top that figure, with more than 1,500 artworks in various mediums from up for grabs.

For the more active-minded, a feast for the eyes, soul and taste buds awaits cyclists on Tasman’s Great Taste Trail. Ninety-two kilometres of the eventual 175km track has been completed to date.

Suitable for all fitness and age levels, from beginners and families through to cycling enthusiasts, a key reason this Trail is so popular is the spectacular and varied scenery: coastal sections provide expansive Tasman Bay views and Kaiteriteri offers up azure bays and golden sands, while the trail through to Wakefield presents idyllic rural vistas – imagery carried with you long after the pedalling stops.

The other reason for its popularity lies in the taste-bud diversions along the way - vineyards, cafes and charming little cottage businesses offering superb produce, crafted foods, coffee and wine to taste.

Of course it wouldn’t be the Tasman region without art options; there are more than 300 working artists in the Nelson-Tasman region, including painters, sculptors, ceramic artists, potters, glass blowers, jewellers and many have their galleries on the Trail.

Nelson city now boasts another must-see attraction - the result of one man’s vision and passion, the recently opened NZ Classic Motorcycles is igniting enthusiasm with motorcycle aficionados and clubs, historians and art lovers alike.

The beautifully-designed purpose-built city premises and extraordinary original large-format silk advertising posters from the 1910s and ‘20s form the perfect backdrop for the 300-odd beautifully restored bikes on display.

The collection contains motorcycles representative of the biggest names around the world from 1902 to present day. A glass-enclosed workshop encourages visitors to view the restoration and maintenance team at work as they design and make parts, repair, trial and polish with dedication.

A limited-time highlight display (still available during Labour Weekend 2015) is the addition of a number of motorcycles belonging to the Britten Family Trust, New Zealand’s own motorcycle royalty.

In what is thought to be a first, the opportunity to choose from one of a select few classic motorbikes and take part in guided tours meandering through the picturesque back roads of Ngatimoti, Marahau and Nelson will also be on offer late 2015.

Encompassing visual arts, design and photography, writing and contemporary music, the ability to teach and inspire all the arts and media students under one roof in a state of the art environment has become an integral and memorable part of gaining qualifications at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s Creative Industries Department.

NMIT offers 100 programmes at certificate, diploma or degree level across a broad range of areas, via its campuses in Nelson, Marlborough and Auckland.

Being located in one of the most beautiful and desirable areas in New Zealand, NMIT entices around 3,000 equivalent full time students to the region each year, who come to enjoy the scenery, beaches, sunny climate, culture, relaxed lifestyle and education opportunities offered.

NMIT has chosen to collaborate with other organisations to promote Nelson Tasman to the rest of New Zealand to keep the institute top of mind with potential students, and the opportunity to be involved with a campaign incorporating the Nelson Arts Festival and Art Expo Nelson later this year was a good fit with the Creative Industries Department.

As with past collaborations, current or former design students have assisted with the creative of the campaign.

For further details and the chance to win your Labour Weekend in Nelson, log onto www.NelsonNZ.com from 1 July 2015.

ENDS

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