Our Story

The Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival is presented by Arts Inc. Heretaunga, a charitable non-profit organisation. Arts Inc. Heretaunga provides platforms for creativity, arts, and culture in Hawke’s Bay by ensuring accessible participation for all, while enhancing community wellbeing through meaningful connections to self, place, cultures, and communities. We lead lead inclusive, impactful cultural growth as the regional delivery organisation for creativity and culture in the region. We produce the annual Arts Festival in Hawke’s Bay alongside the Hawke's Bay Arts Trail, Bridge Pa Sculpture Trail, Hastings Blossom Parade and manage the Hastings Community Arts Centre. 

The inaugural Festival was in 2015 with a Spiegeltent in Havelock North, to huge success and generating overwhelmingly positive feedback from sponsors, supporters and the public. Fuelled by unprecedented support in our first year, the festival is now an annual event offering a world-class programme of theatre, dance, comedy, music, and visual arts. Attendance numbers have grown each year as people from our region and wider Aotearoa connect with our event.

The variety of arts experiences along with the free community programming allows us to bring together a diverse community for a wonderful connection through the shared experience of the arts. We look forward to seeing you there in October.