Fringe Festival to open Artery
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The festival fairies have waved their magic wands and voila - the Inaugural Artery Fringe Festival is set to begin. The festival runs from September 18 to October 3 and celebrates the opening of the Artery, Home of the Nelson Community Arts Centre.
The Artery is the new name for the extended, revamped arts centre on New St. Its completion secures a forum for alternative art and performance in Nelson for years to come.
Centre manager Dave White said the festival runs on the verge of the Nelson City Council's Arts Festival. Both events capitalise on the buzz which takes hold of Nelson city in the lead-up to the Montana New Zealand Wearable Art Awards on September 24, 25 and 26.
Mr White said the Artery's events focus on providing entertainment for youth. But the 40-year-old is referring to attitude rather than age and everyone is welcome. Organising the festival has taken much more work than the flick of a wand by its very tall mascots, but the events still promise to be out of this world.
It kicks off with an Intergalatic ball on September 18 from 10pm, featuring Salmonella Dub, bands from Christchurch and Auckland, and theatre performers. A string of performances will be held in the new mechanical cafe and the auditorium, along with several workshops throughout the festival.
On September 25 the Artery will be officially opened by Mayor Philip Woollaston at 4pm, and a huge Hyper dance party, featuring props from the Gathering, will be held that night.
Kids Fest runs for a week from September 28 and features a lineup of fun-filled events to occupy children during the school holidays.
[Illustration] Caption: Photo MARION VAN DIJK Dave White, manager of the Artery is dwarfed by the Fire Stalker fringe fairies (from left) Julia Bromley, Kama Bromley, 7, and Sharyn Croft as they launch into the Fringe Festival.