Standing proud at 100 Collingwood Street an old laundromat has a second lease on life. It will fill a niche gap within Nelson’s local arts landscape by offering an innovative ‘our space, your way’ hire model. This could be the golden ticket for contemporary artists and makers across New Zealand eager to explore and play on the fringe.

Think Airbnb, but for art. Project 100 allows artists who occupy the space to have complete control over their exhibitions, from curation to management, with flexible opening hours to suit their needs and specifications. With a fantastic street presence, Project 100 is home to the Bench School for Jewellery, founded by contemporary jeweller Kay van Dyk, and private studios for working artists. Just a stone's throw away from great bars, eateries, and creative spaces like Family Jewels Records, The Free House craft brewery, Kiln Studio, and other galleries, Project 100 is a welcomed new addition to Nelson’s arts and culture offerings.

A Boost for Nelson’s Art Scene

Hilary Johnstone, artist and owner of Project 100, is passionate about the revitalising of Nelson’s central business district with a space that supports and celebrates artistic diversity.

"We want artists to have a place where they can fully express their creativity”

"I wanted to support artists, and provide a fringe space for the diverse range of makers, craft people, and artists that call this region home, and also offer opportunities for people from around the country and abroad to bring new energy into town. I encourage conceptual contemporary creatives to challenge us through

A Space Where Projects Can Bloom and Thrive

When Johnstone purchased the laundromat late last year, the intention was to provide artist studio spaces for several working artists. Spaces are rare in the inner city and the need is great. The plan for the building was also to create an opportunity for the immensely talented jeweller Kay van Dyk to open her own school. Having been in Kay’s classes, Johnstone saw first hand what a fantastic teacher she was and recognised the potential for Nelson to have its own Jewellery school, a rich addition

to Nelson’s creative sector. With artists now settled into their studios and the Bench Jewellery School up and running, the Project 100 gallery space is the final piece of the puzzle.

Project 100 not only owes its quirky name to its address, 100 Collingwood Street, but also to Johnstone’s vision for the gallery of being a “project within a project.”

“This project of mine is to create a vibrant arts space which can then become a blank canvas for contemporary artists from near and afar to showcase their own projects, essentially making Project 100 a constantly evolving project within a project.”

“I feel that everyone in Nelson is very generous, and does what they can to support their community. It’s up to us to keep Nelson alive, so the aim for Project 100 is to play a small part in the bigger picture by creating a space for artists to play, test out more experimental material”.

With the potential for artists in residence to also work on-site while they exhibit, there are countless opportunities for creative projects to bloom and thrive, and with that the opportunity for the public to experience art in play, and makers in motion’

The first exhibition at Project 100 will kick off on the 13th of September, featuring local ceramic artists Thomas Baker. Many in the local arts community will recognise Thomas already for his role as Clay Week creative director and as the second half of Kiln Studio. You can find out more about the exhibition on the Project 100 Website.

Images:

1. Project100, Sign frontage, August 2024, photo courtesy Project 100
2. Project100, Gallery frontage, August 2024, photo courtesy Project 100
3. Project100, Inside Gallery, August 2024, photo courtesy Project 100