Nelson Jewellery Week Call for Proposals

Nelson Jewellery Week (NJW) is a week-long festival of contemporary jewellery held in Whakatū, Nelson, returning 1–8 October 2027. The festival brings makers, collectors, curators, students and the public together through exhibitions, workshops, talks, community events and social gatherings.

NJW is calling for proposals across three strands

Workshops: The festival is programming 20–25 technical and concept-driven workshops for makers at beginner, emerging and established levels, covering skills such as design development and exhibition-making. A masterclass for mid to late-career makers is also planned. Workshops will be held at the NMIT jewellery workshop, The Bench School for Jewellery and other city spaces. Tutors travelling from outside the region receive support for travel, accommodation and a daily stipend, with materials reimbursed.

Exhibitions: Selected projects are matched with galleries, retail spaces and shop windows across the city. Exhibitions will be curated by Caroline Billing, Director of The National, and Whakatū artist Josephine Cachemaille, with preference given to work not previously shown in Aotearoa. Exhibitors are also invited to give a floor talk.

Special Events: Talks, panels, performances, tours, launches, social gatherings and community events are all welcome. NJW can assist with programme listing, promotion, box office support and finding a venue.

The 2027 festival theme is EXCHANGE — positioning jewellery as a relational practice, a site of encounter between maker and wearer, material and meaning, individual and community. Proposals do not need to respond to this theme directly.

NJW is presented by Hiwa, the arts development agency for Whakatū (formerly Arts Council Nelson). You can submit as many proposals as you like through Eventotron. Full details at www.jewelleryweek.co.nz.