Make It Nelson

10/07/2026

Love this!

02/07/2026

We made it!

Make It Nelson was such a blast. On the four weekends in June we ran over 90 sessions with more than 75 of them sold out. To be honest, we knew we were on to a good thing, but we certainly weren't expecting that kind of response!

And the best news is that we'll be back in June 2027 - see you then!

If you want to stay in the know for all things Make It, please do sign up to our newsletter. We won't be sending out any for the next few months while we re-group and start planning for 2027. Head to www.makeitnelson.co.nz to sign up.

Nothing is done in isolation, and we have had tremendous support to make sure Make It got made. Big thanks to Nelson City Council as our main funder, and to NMIT and Christ Church Anglican Cathedral Nelson for the incredible facilities and spaces.

Heartfelt shout outs to Proper Crisps, Pete's Natural and Global Soap.
Warm thanks to Innit Creative and Tim Cuff at Nelson Creative for the video and photos, and to Little Black Sheep Coffee for keeping us hyped!

And then there's all our wonderful workshop tutors and finally, all of you who came along to try something new - it was magic.

Arts Council Nelson Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman

02/07/2026

Make It isn't just for June! You can make it all year round with classes being run by some incredibly talented makers in Nelson, including Kay at The Bench School for Jewellery !

Did you miss out on the Make It Nelson workshops? 🔨🔨🔨

The Bench is running a RING MAKING TASTER WORKSHOP on SATURDAY, JULY 11 💍

Begin by making a textured brass or copper ring before using these new skills to design and create a bespoke silver band.

This is a small class where you'll receive plenty of support every step of the way 🧡🧡🧡

Book at thebench.nz for this workshop and others coming up during winter, including a FATHER'S DAY RING MAKING TASTER WORKSHOP on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6.

26/06/2026

We have some spaces available for workshops happening this weekend, so there's still time for you to Make It with us!

- Make a Shaker Box (2-day workshop) on Sat 27-Sun 28 June, 9am-5pm at Centre for Fine Woodworking, New Zealand
- Painting with Colour Simplified on Sat 27 June, 9am-5pm at The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū
- Coiled Harakeke Basketry on Sat 27 June, 2pm-5pm at NMIT G-Block
- Te Ramaroa Lantern Making Workshop on Sat 27 June, 12pm-3pm at Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao - FREE
- Foraged Fibre Workshop on Sun 28 June, 9am-5pm at NMIT G-Block
- Harakeke Weaving on Sun 28 June, 2pm-5pm at NMIT G-Block
- Form with Line, Colour & Space on Sun 28 June, 2pm-5pm at NMIT G-Block

All the workshops are suitable for beginners.
You don't need to bring any equipment or materials - just your sense of adventure!
Prices vary between workshops.

More info & bookings at www.makeitnelson.co.nz

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22/06/2026

It's hard to believe that we have just one more weekend of Make It Nelson for 2026 - but be assured that we will be back in 2027!

This weekend we have a couple of workshops at the that still have space for you! Both are with the fabulous Nelson artist and tutor .

Painting with Colour Simplified
This fun, hands on, one-day painting workshop will simplify all future colour mixing needs.
Sat 27 June, 9am-5pm
$120+bf

Form with Line, Colour & Space
This workshop sculpts using 'reverse' techniques, create form using only line, colour and negative space!
Sun 28 June, 2-5pm
$95+bf

More info and bookings at www.makeitnelson.co.nz
nelson

21/06/2026

We've just finished the third weekend for Make It Nelson, and one sure-fire reason we've made it this far is Little Black Sheep Coffee. They've been very generously been keeping us topped up with caffeine at NMIT, where we've had up to 10 workshops every weekend.

And the flavours - yummo - the maple gets our vote!

If you want to try it (and you really should) you can pick up a bag at The Coffee Company, Connings, FreshChoice, Cultural Conversations Nelson, Nelson Farmers Market and The Nelson Market to name a few.

Or online of course at www.littleblacksheep.co.nz

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20/06/2026

News Flash! We gave three tickets available for Forage Your Way to Well-being with Cynthia Loos.

The workshop is on tomorrow (Sunday 21 June) at 1-4pm, at Waimarama Community Gardens. $70+bf

Snap them up quick!

What to bring: Please bring a camera, pen and pad, hat and gloves, warm waterproof jacket and plenty of layers of warm clothing, gumboots or waterproof walking shoes, water bottle, snacks if you need to graze on food regularly.

15/06/2026

We've got a really special two-day workshop at the internationally renowned Centre for Fine Woodworking, New Zealand, right here in Nelson!

That's right, people come from around the world for these classes, and you get to go along for a weekend. This course is perfect for beginners.

Karissa Walker Méndez will guide you through the process of making three boxes that nest inside each other, in the 'Shaker' style. There's nothing quite like being in a real woodworking workshop - the smell, the textures, and the potential for lots of lovely handmade things. We promise that at the end of the two-days your heart will be bursting with woody pride.

- Make a Shaker Box (2-day workshop)
Sat 27-Sun 28 June, 9am-5pm
Centre for Fine Woodworking, New Zealand
465 Wakapuaka Rd�, Wakapuaka

Book now at https://makeitnelson.co.nz/events/make-a-shaker-box/

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15/06/2026

It's getting chilly - time to get woolly!

On Sunday 21 June, there are two workshops where you can get hands-on with wool - there's good ol' fashioned knitting; and then there's warm and wonderful jewellery!

All the workshops provide all the materials - all you need is your sense of adventure.

- Chuffed to Knits with Bettina Bley - learn to knit from a ball of wool to a finished piece and everything in-between.
- Brooches, Beads & Body Adornment from NZ Fibre with Colleen Plank - get felting with wool to make brooches, beads and very cool necklaces!

Chuffed to Knits
Sun 21 June, 2-5pm
The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū
$155+bf - all materials supplied including a Wool Kit-Set with circular needles.

Brooches, Beads & Body Adornment from NZ Fibre
Sun 21 June, 9am-5pm
$110+bf - all materials supplied including wool, other fibres and brooch-backs.

More info and bookings at www.makeitnelson.co.nz

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11/06/2026

If you like the idea of sketching what you see, then Walk Talk Draw is the workshop for you.

Led by local artist Claire Colvin, you'll begin inside, in the Suter classroom (because it is still a bit chilly outside at 9am). And then, you'll venture out into the Queens Gardens where Claire will be giving you some tips and encouragements to be an artist-in-the-open-air.

The class finishes back inside, where you'll come together to create a collaborative drawing.

Walk Talk Draw
Sun 14 & Sun 21 June at 9am-12noon
The Suter Art Gallery & Queens Gardens
$70/$50+bf
Info & bookings: https://makeitnelson.co.nz/events/walk-and-draw/

Arts Council Nelson Nelson City Council Uniquely Nelson Nelson Tasman