Welcome to Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre
Dating back to 1877, The Arts Centre is a thriving community with a rich history
Located in Ōtautahi Christchurch, The Arts Centre is run by an independent charitable trust and comprises the largest collection of heritage buildings in the country. It is home to over 70 entities including galleries, museums, cinemas, boutique retailers, artisan eateries and bars, accommodation, engaging events, stunning venues and much more.
Festive Fun 2025
Make The Arts Centre your home for holiday cheer, with live performances, singalongs, workshops and a sleigh-load of Christmas magic for the whole whānau.
Find out moreFriends Fundraising Open Garden 2025
Sunday 7 December 2025
Join the Friends of the Arts Centre for a special visit to Frensham, a peaceful and wonderful 5* “Garden of National Significance” near Tai Tapu.
Book (Fight) Club
Sunday 23 November 2025 Cloisters Studio
It's a book club.
It's a fight club.
It's a book fight club.
Shades of Shakti
Saturday 22 November, 2025 Great Hall
Shades of Shakti are an intercultural group of musicians bridging the gap between traditional Indian music, classical music and jazz.
The Unicorn
Saturday 22 November 2025 Cloisters Studio
An enchanting and beguiling evening of bespoke, spontaneously stories created right before your very eyes. Unique, never to be told again tales of magic, mystery, and love all accompanied by a live mu
Tīkohikohi
Sunday 7 December 2025 Great Hall
Tīkohikohi (meaning to bring together) celebrates the music and art of Ōtautahi musician Harry Harrison in a spectacular concert of jazz and digital art.
Dark Horse Art Exhibition
Tuesday 4 - Sunday 30 November 2025 Ground floor, Boys’ High
Dark Horse, a collaborative exhibition by Oliver Rabbett and Benjamin Mills, seeks to elicit discomfort and provoke curiosity through a series of somber, unsettling oil paintings and sculptures
Free
Collected Memories | Time, place, and the human condition.
Thursday 6 November 2025 - Saturday 31 January 2026 Library
Collected Memories. Time, place, and the human condition, Laurence Aberhart; Jordan Barnes; Isla Huia; Hannah Kidd, and Elizabeth Moyle all respond to the theme from their own unique understanding.
Free
Festive Fun 2025
Monday 1 December - Sunday 21 December Arts Centre wide
Make The Arts Centre your home for holiday cheer, with live performances, singalongs, workshops and a sleigh-load of Christmas magic for the whole whānau.
Ale House Rock
16 October - 11 December 2025 The Gym
Christchurch’s best kept noisy little secret is moving to Altiora at The Arts Centre for a series of monthly sessions.
What's Here
New Zealand-made homewares and gifts.
Frances Nation is a store specialising in Aotearoa New Zealand-made homewares and gifts of quality craftsmanship, authenticity and longevity.