Snail’s Artist Run Space

If you’re seeking the creative heart of Palmerston North, just look for the snail. Literally - a giant photo of a snail hanging above the door to an unassuming brick building on Taonui Street.

That door takes you through to Snails, an eccentric artist-run space that has been breathing life into Palmerston North’s grassroots art, music, and culture scene for the best part of a decade. It’s a safe haven and a communal studio for the city’s fledgling muses, with their contributions dotted around the space to give it a colourful, chaotic energy. Paintings, frames and photographs cover virtually every wall, and a haphazard array of easels, paintbrushes, musical instruments and other tools give a hint to the creative mahi this place witnesses day in and day out. Numerous bands - both local and from afar - have left their stickers on the walls, complementing the zines and other treasures that visitors have donated, all adding their chapter to a truly unique story. 

Everyone is welcome at Snails - the only requisite is an insatiable curiosity and a genuine passion for the arts. The space hosts gigs, workshops, openings, readings, performances, and art installations and exhibitions, giving budding creatives an accessible platform through which they can share their work with Palmy (and the world). The focus is relentlessly on supporting local, original creators, maximising opportunity for those who keep the city’s creative spirit alive.

As stated in Snail’s kaupapa, a sort of founding document for the space, its goal is to put Palmerston North firmly on the cultural map. Its success in doing so is perhaps best summed up by a comment from an artist who frequents the space: “Palmy would be lost without places like Snails.”