All go for Light Nelson 2014

It’s all go for Light Nelson to brighten up the winter once again, with the announcement that the Nelson Events Management Committee will support the event with a significant grant from the Nelson City Council Events Marketing and Development fund.

Last year Light Nelson exceeded all expectations with a crowd of 16,000 drawn to the Queens Garden over three nights in July.

Events Committee Chairman Bill Findlater said the event was so successful it is a ‘natural’ for ongoing support.

“It not only showcases the arts which we’re already well known for in this region, it’s a collaboration of art, science and technology that shows the region as being innovative and embracing of new technology,” he said. “The funding will help to get the word out about Light Nelson to the rest of the country – it’s on at the same time as the Winter Music Festival and the Art Expo this year so it’s a great reason to invite the rest of New Zealand to visit us.”

Brian Riley, Chair of the Light Nelson Trust, said the support from the Events Management Committee strengthened the partnership between Light Nelson and the Nelson City Council and was very good news for the event.

“We see this as endorsement of the tremendous community support we had last year and the potential Light Nelson has to be an ongoing event in the Nelson art calendar and to really put the city on the map as a mid-winter destination,” he said.

Mr Riley said people could expect Light Nelson to be even better and brighter than last year’s event: “We have had submissions from artists from right around New Zealand who want to take part this year and we are into the final stages of narrowing these down to over 30 final projects that will be Light Nelson 2014. We have some very exciting projects here that make use of laser technology, video installation and public interaction around a whole range of hugely creative concepts.”

Light Nelson 2014 is scheduled for July 11 – 13, based in Queens Gardens, spilling into Albion Square and the Chinese garden as well as involving the NMIT Arts and Media building and campus and some other sites around the city. More information at lightnelson.org.nz

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