Art Society Update
Update by Nelson Suter Art Society President Ian Bowell
Kia ora
Time to update members on what your committee has been doing since the 2025 AGM. In earlier newsletters I have talked about developing a new NSAS website and building our profile through social media platforms. The new website is live and offers the opportunity to members to sell their artworks. There has also been a dramatic increase in traffic through both our Instagram and Facebook sites. A big thank you to Tom Brooker who has been instrumental in making this happen. We have also seen a marked increase in our presence in local print media. Since joining the committee Peter Gibbs has ensured reviews of exhibitions and members’ profiles have become a regular feature in local publications.
Now the website is live we plan to offer practical support to members who want to upload their profiles and images of artwork but have been held back by technological issues. We will run a support session on Saturday 29th November (10 am to 2 pm) in the NSAS office.
Committee member Clare Williams has also been involved in working with the Miyazu Sister City Association. To celebrate 50 years of the Nelson-Miyazu sister city relationship, the association commissioned an artwork to be gifted to Miyazu to hang inside the Miyazu City Council building. This opportunity was offered to our members. Belinda Wilson was successful in winning the commission. Congratulations to Belinda on receiving the commission and thanks to Clare for enabling this to happen.
Miyazu, Kyoto, Japan - Miyazu City is situated in the north of Kyoto Prefecture on the main island of Honshu.
The committee has decided to programme a thematic exhibition, a new opportunity for members to exhibit their works in 2026. Open to all members the theme will be Portraits, with the exhibition being booked for 25th May to 21st June. A separate message will be sent to members outlining the details of the exhibition. Submissions can be both 2 and 3 dimensional and in any media. So, time to get creative and interpret the theme in any way you like. We have also decided to introduce a 4-week exhibition cycle rather than the current 3 weeks. This will commence in 2026.
At present the committee are discussing the possibility of curating a pop-up exhibition outside of the Nelson region. Another area being discussed is offering practical art-based courses, with one member already agreeing to offer a weekend course in the latter half of 2026.
Alongside all this work, the committee continues to support members to exhibit their artworks and foster visual arts in the Nelson community, such as continuing to foster our relationship with new NMIT art graduates through our NSAS awards. This award includes a year’s free membership to the NSAS and an exhibition in the McKee Gallery. All this work occurs through committee members being actively involved in making the NSAS a thriving organization designed to support artists in the region.
Some of the artwork on show at BAM 2025 held in NMIT’s G block - more information here:
As mentioned in previous newsletters, none of these opportunities occur without an enthusiastic committee. At the end of this committee cycle we will lose some committee members. We will be looking, therefore, for new members at the next AGM. Two roles in particular need replacing, Treasurer and President. If any members have bookkeeping or accountancy experience and are interested in the role of Treasurer, please contact me to discuss. I will not be standing for the role of President next year. In the last two years I have been Treasurer (2024-25) and President (2025-26). In the second half of 2026 I will not be in New Zealand and therefore would be an inappropriate candidate for the role of President. If you are interested in standing for these specific roles or would like more information about the roles, please contact me. I would be happy to spend time with you and share how the roles of Treasurer and President function within the NSAS committee.
I hope like me you are all looking forward to a vibrant and successful summer exhibition. I send all NSAS members my best wishes for a creative and exciting new year.
Ngā mihi o te tau hou
Ian Bowell (NSAS, President)
