Operating for nearly two decades, Nautilus Creative Space is a charitable arts trust providing a sanctuary for artists, musicians, and makers. Nestled in the eccentric heart of Newtown, we offer an affordable and energising environment for creativity to flourish, with spaces for work, collaboration, and showcasing your craft.
Our kaupapa is centred around affordability, collectivism, community, and creativity.
We strive to provide affordable studios and workspaces for low income creators, with two distinct membership options to fit the needs of our artists.
With monthly meetings, working bees, and day to day job roles, we are committed to working together to co-create a cooperative creative space where all voices are heard, and mahi appreciated.
Community outreach is integral to our cooperative. Holding community fundraisers, connecting with the myriad of Newtown creative spaces, and hosting events for the neighbourhood are some of the ways we achieve this. And, we are always open to more ideas and partnerships!
As a whole, we aim to create a space in which creativity has the potential to grow, sustain, connect, and inspire.
Back in the aughts, О̄whiro Bay was a sleepy, almost forgotten suburb. Although many of the houses were weather worn and derelict, a group of young artists fell in love with the rugged nature of it all. It was affordable, and oddly romantic. They started to take over many of the houses in the neighbourhood, determined to grow their art practices into a viable living.
Down by the beach, at the end of the road there was an old diesel mechanics’ warehouse that had been empty and decaying for years. The artists contacted the owner to see if they could take over the building as an art space, and from that moment on, a dream was born.
In the early days, the space was still covered in the residue of decades of the diesel vehicles that were repaired there. It was greasy, filthy, and bare, but the artists only saw possibility.
They cleaned, erected walls for studios, and painted murals. They built a skate ramp in the giant main space and created a lounge and kitchen. Artists began moving their practices into purpose built studios (built from scraps and off cuts), and the energy and excitement of the building started to grow. The artists were committed and hard working, and their vision of creating a space that provided community and affordable workspace for artists was solidifying.
As the studios were being built around the perimeter of the main central space, a name for the space emerged: Nautilus.
In 2008, the group decided that while the community was getting stronger and more organised every day, it was time to create a legal entity that would ensure the longevity of Nautilus far beyond the people that started it. The paperwork was filed and the first board of trustees of Nautilus Creative Trust was born.
Since the beginning, Nautilus has not only created systems, and processes, but has grown an organisation that has made its mark on people’s lives, art practices, and the arts industry in New Zealand. Hundreds of artists have worked at Nautilus and left their mark on the community and the building. And throughout the years, the dream and vision has never wavered: Nautilus is an arts community where ideas are shared, where art is created, where people come together to work for a common goal, where artists can express and be themselves, where affordability creates freedom to be an artist.
[paraphrased from the words of Mary Laine]
In 2023, Nautilus thought it could be seeing its end when the longtime landlord put the building up for sale. The artists worked diligently to try and buy it in the name of the trust, but to no avail. An Auckland based property developer bought the building and evicted the cooperative, forever changing the community of О̄whiro Bay.
The building was stripped, the furniture packed away, and Taupuruariki Brightwell’s father’s whakairo was taken down. One final party was held, and the artists said goodbye to Nautilus.
But! Through the incredibly hard work of Mary Laine, Nautilus Creative Space finally found a new building to move its wonderful artistry into. In 2024, the lease for the bottom floor of the Dom Polski building was signed, and the artists of Nautilus found themselves a new beginning.
They cleaned, erected walls for studios, and began painting murals. Much of the art from the first building came with them, and the iconic climbing wall was reassembled and now sits proudly in the main space.
Now in the bustling life of Newtown, Nautilus Creative Space has a fresh opportunity to connect with community, host events, and be a home for artists wishing to create, coexist, and freely express themselves.
In this very fun episode of B-Side Stories, Sadie talks to artists Jordan, Sean, Holly, and James about the transformative nature of working in a collective. We hear about their many creative pursuits from music and songwriting to videography, intuitive guidance readings, painting, jewellery, photography, writing…and much more! We also hear music from Sean’s band Spiral, and James performs live in the studio.
Discover What’s Happening at Nautilus
Follow us on Social media and join us for an exciting lineup of exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings. From art showcases to live music, there’s always something to spark your creativity.