Tāwera - Your Art Space

26/08/2026

The Ordinary Wonders exhibition and event programme is going incredible well. Ordinary Wonders presented with Hikitia! RISE: Respect Inspire Support Empower .

Our our top pick coming up is BONES, a one-man play by Julian Noel (Queenstown).

Nominated for 10 awards at the Nelson and Dunedin Fringe Festivals, BONES is an acclaimed one-man play co-created by Julian Noel and director Martine Baanvinger. Raw, funny and profoundly moving, Julian Noel brings eight unforgettable family members to life in a performance that has been hailed as "a tour de force" and "an unmissable piece of theatre."

There's more info on Julian and his play here: https://www.bonestheplay.com/

Bones
Tāwera at 77 Trafalgar St
Fri 28 August at 5.30pm
Sat 29 August at 3pm
It's free, but please do register. More info here: https://events.humanitix.com/bones-one-man-play-followed-by-a-facilitated-discussion-with-julian-noel

The full programme of workshops and events is here: https://www.rise.net.nz/ordinary-wonders-2026 -and-events

Hiwa Nelson City Council Nelson Tasman Uniquely Nelson

Experience BONES, an acclaimed one-man play about family, love, loss and healing, followed by a facilitated discussion.

20/08/2026

Hopefully you're aware already that our new space, Tāwera, has opened with a fantastic exhibition, Ordinary Wonders presented with Hikitia! RISE: Respect Inspire Support Empower.

But, you might not have clocked that there's also a five-week programme of free workshops, performances, conversations, film screenings and creative activities designed to celebrate connection, belonging and the memories that shape our lives.

It kicks off tomorrow (Friday) with a film screening and discussion for a play that was at the Nelson Fringe Festival earlier this year. Naked Embarrassed Female is created by Swiss theatre-maker and performer Elsa Couvreur from Woman's Move. It's an award-winning lecture-performance built like a forensic thriller - a darkly humorous exploration of consent, power and the online world. The screening will be followed by a facilitated discussion.

Embarrassed Naked Female
Fri 21 August at 5.30-7pm (including Q&A)
Tāwera at 77 Trafalgar St (next to the Bus Hub)
Recommended 15+ yrs
Click here for more info and to register: https://events.humanitix.com/embarrassed-naked-female-show-screening-followed-by-a-facilitated-discussion

The full programme is here: https://www.rise.net.nz/ordinary-wonders-2026 -and-events

The exhibition, Ordinary Wonders is at Tāwera until 16 September
77 Trafalgar St (next to the Bus Hub)
Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 10am-2pm

Hiwa Nelson City Council Nelson Tasman Uniquely Nelson

Screening of the award-winning Embarrassed Naked Female, followed by a facilitated discussion on consent, digital safety, and power online.

19/08/2026

We had an incredible opening night event last Friday with the exhibition Ordinary Wonders, presented with Hikitia! RISE: Respect Inspire Support Empower.

It's so amazing to be in our new galleries, and we love that we've had more than 1000 visitors in the first 3 days! We've seen loads of our old friends, and fast making lots of news ones - especially people popping in while they wait for their bus.

Ordinary Wonders is a massive exhibition of over 90 artworks and stories from the community. On until 16 September.

The exhibition is accompanied by a four-week programme of workshops, performances, conversations, films, and creative experiences that invite people of all ages to connect, reflect, participate, and celebrate the stories that unite us. Starting on Friday 21 August. More info at www.rise.net.nz/ordinary-wonders-2026

Many thanks to Elizabeth del Angel for the photos of the opening night.

Tāwera - You Art Space
77 Trafalgar St (next to Nelson Bus Hub)
Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm & Sat 10am-2pm

Hiwa Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

11/08/2026

And there it is, the first artwork to be installed at Tāwera by our awesome technician Reuben Derrick. Nice one.

Only about another 90 to go, Reuben!

That's right, our opening exhibition, Ordinary Wonders, features over 90 works of art. This will be a truly special way to celebrate the new galleries. Presented with Hikitia RISE: Respect Inspire Support Empower, Ordinary Wonders features stories and artworks from the community. It's on from 15 August to 16 September.

The exhibition is accompanied by a four-week programme of workshops, performances, conversations, films, and creative experiences that invite people of all ages to connect, reflect, participate, and celebrate the stories that unite us. More info at www.rise.net.nz/ordinary-wonders-2026

We're at 77 Trafalgar Centre, right next to the Bus Hub. Come see us!

Arts Council Nelson Nelson City Council Nelson Tasman Uniquely Nelson

11/08/2026

In case you missed it - we were in the The Nelson Mail !

The former iSite has been reborn as Tāwera, a flexible new arts hub described as a significant milestone in the city’s art scene.

07/08/2026

We've moved in!

This morning we had a special ribbon cutting and blessing for Tāwera. We couldn't be more proud of the new galleries, and we can't wait for the first exhibition to really show off the spaces - that will be Ordinary Wonders, presented with Hikitia RISE: Respect Inspire Support Empower from 15 August - 16 September.

Our new home is at 77 Trafalgar St (near the new bus hub) - come and see us after 15 August!

Massive thanks to Nelson City Council for supporting us in the new adventure, by providing this new gallery, workshop and office spaces. The transition has been years in the planning, guided by our governing body, Te Tai-o-Aorere Arts Development Trust.

In recent years, a new arts and creativity strategy for the city, He Tātai Whetū, identified the need for an independent arts development agency to advocate for, champion, connect, and support the wide range of organisations, community groups, artists, and audiences that make up our creative sector.

Our new name Tāwera comes from Venus, the morning star that burns on the horizon.

Hiwa is the new name of Arts Council Nelson, as part of the transition into its new role as Nelson’s arts development agency. Tāwera is the name of the new art space at Millers Acre, with exhibition, workshop and office spaces.

Thanks to NCC for the photos.

Nelson City Council Arts Council Nelson Refinery ArtSpace Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

24/07/2026

There's still time to enter into one of New Zealand's premier exhibitions and awards for ceramics.

Submissions close on Friday 21st August 2026.

Pushing Clay will show at Tāwera | Refinery ArtSpace, Nelson on 3-24 October.
Awards announced on Wednesday evening, 2 October.

This is your chance to break the mould and challenge traditional clay practices. Whether you work solely with clay or incorporate it into your mixed media art, we welcome you to showcase your innovative techniques in both two and three-dimensional pieces.

With a top prize of $8,000 and two runner-up cash prizes of $1,000 each, generously sponsored by Forsyth Barr, Pushing Clay 2026 aims to inspire and invigorate artists to push their limits and innovate their practise.

In 2026, the Pushing Clay exhibition will be in the new gallery space for Tāwera | Refinery ArtSpace, in Nelson.

Hiwa | Arts Council Nelson are committed to building an archival record of contemporary New Zealand ceramics, as presented through the Pushing Clay exhibition and award, as part of Nelson Clay Week.

More info at www.acn.org.nz/pushingclay

Nelson City Council Arts Council Nelson Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman Refinery ArtSpace Nelson Clay Week .clay.week

20/07/2026

Kia ora tātou! Refinery ArtSpace in Hardy St is now closed forever. BUT, we will soon be opening in our new space, Tāwera, at 77 Trafalgar St (on the corner of Halifax St at Millers Acre).

Moving to a new home is the right time for a new name. We chose Tāwera as our new exhibition and workshops spaces, and Hiwa as the overall organisation (Arts Council Nelson).

Our first exhibition is 'Ordinary Wonders', on 15 Aug - 16 Sept, in collaboration with Hikitia! RISE: Respect Inspire Support Empower.

If you want to be part of the journey, sign up to our newsletter at www.acn.org.nz (we'll also be launching a new website very soon!).