Welcome to the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival

Nau mai, haere mai ki te Ahurei Toi o Te Matau a Maui

“You are the books you read, the films you watch, the music you listen to, the people you meet, the dreams you have, the conversations you engage in. You are what you take from these. You are the sound of the ocean, the breath of fresh air, the brightest light and the darkest corner. You are a collective of every experience you have had in your life. You are every single day. So drown yourself in a sea of knowledge and existence. Let the words run through your veins and let the colours fill your mind.”  Jac Vanek

These words by Jan Vanek and our theme this year “Be Open” is our aspiration for the Festival, to encourage our community to be open to ideas and experiences that delight, challenge and entertain. That collectively we are open and accepting of ideas and experiences that unite us and make us richer.

As we currently navigate the impact of Covid-19 on the Festival, we are having to be open to change as well still holding true to our kaupapa.  The extended COVID-19 restrictions in Auckland mean that this has had an impact on some of our artists being not able to rehearse fully under the current restrictions and move around the country to be together.  Some postponements and cancellations will be inevitable, and we will keep you up to date as we work through the logistics with each visiting artist and company.

We are however committed to supporting those artists that can deliver and we will shape and create ways that enable a vibrant celebration and coming together within the restrictions.  We are developing ways that adhere to the precautions but we also want to honour our community and  to celebrate the innate need of humans to be together in community, in an environment where stories are told and experience shared.   

Any changes to scheduled shows will be communicated directly to ticket holders and will also be communicated when booking affected shows.  Any tickets purchased to shows that may be cancelled due to Covid-19 changes will be fully refunded.   

Alternatively keep returning to our website for any updates or call us on 06 6512487.

See you all in October for a celebration of theatre, music, dance, comedy, circus and literary delights. Kia pai te rā.