The Arts Centre

Cafes key icon. Galleries and museum key icon. Theatre and performance key icon.
Cafes key icon. Galleries and museum key icon. Theatre and performance key icon.

Monday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Tuesday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Wednesday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Thursday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Friday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Saturday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Sunday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

2 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch

03-366 0989

The Arts Centre is an iconic landmark, a precious taonga in Christchurch. After being extensively damaged during the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, the stunning Gothic Revival style centre which dates back to 1877 is slowly being brought back to life through a massive $290m post-earthquake restoration programme and the team at the Arts Centre are restoring memories to pave the way for new experiences with culture, creativity and education. As you might imagine, all this change is bringing a lot of excitement with it.

Excitement in the form of:

– From Ancient Greece to Contemporary New Zealand Art and artisan craft – you can visit the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, the Central Art Gallery, the Pūmanawa community exhibition space which has rotating art, heritage and social science exhibitions. Take a sneak peak at rehearsals underway in the Common Room with innovative theatre company Two Productions.

– Food and drink venues such as Bunsen cafe, the Curator’s Deli, Zen Sushi & Dumplings, Fudge Cottage and The Rolling Om.

– Rutherford’s Den – a hands on interactive science learning space which is the actual rooms where Nobel prize-winning scientist Ernest, Lord Rutherford studied.

– Public spaces such as the Great Hall and North and South Quadrangles which are open to the public following their respective restorations and feature public art thanks to SCAPE.

– A growing dynamic events programme that includes markets and carnivals, outdoor summer cinemas, lunchtime concerts and workshops throughout the year (check their website for more details)
Enticing internal features aside, The Arts Centre is a great place to visit purely for a wander around to soak up some of its rich history – there are 23 separate buildings on site, of which 21 are listed by Heritage New Zealand as Historic Place Category 1 and each with their own story to tell.

The Christchurch Arts Centre is a truly special treasure for The Garden City and a must-do for all visitors and Christchurch locals.

Words by Jane Lyons & Photography by Nancy Zhou

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

2 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch

Nearby Places

Foundation Café

Bright turquoise counter and chef station at Foundation Café in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon.

Foundation is fully licensed, serving up flavoursome fare seamlessly integrated into Otautahi’s world-class library, Tūranga.

The Observatory Hotel

A Modern Gothic lounge design.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Accommodation key icon.

The Observatory Hotel is a beautiful central location in Christchurch, allowing you to leave the car for your stay and explore the city on foot.

Brewda

The pretty interior of Brewda Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Restaurants key icon.

Looking to wow your tastebuds and discover your new favourite watering hole in Christchurch? May we present Brewda, located in The Terrace Courtyard, a bar and eatery that...

Tanoshi

Hands holding chopsticks reaching for food on a plate.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Restaurants key icon.

Tanoshi has made a name for itself in Queenstown with three popular sites, each with a slightly different focus. But its Christchurch restaurant is a fusion of them all.

Similar Places

Switch New Brighton

Customers seated at tables inside Switch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon.

Switch is a bit of an institution of the seaside suburb of New Brighton.

Bellbird Bakery – Riverside Market

A cafe counter inside a large indoor market.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon.

Bellbird Bakery isn’t a new name for Ōtautahi households.

Pizza Trap

Customers sitting at high tables.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury Editor's Pick
Restaurants key icon.

Pizza Trap is a collaboration between the person behind Alligator Pizza and Space Academy, serving up neo-neapolitan pizzas with quality ingredients on hand-thrown, sourdough bases.

Little River Inn

The entrance to Little River Inn.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Restaurants key icon.

Surrounded by 360-degree views of rolling tussock hills, Little River Inn is a place for locals to gather, clink glasses and look out the window to remind themselves how...