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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.
Sounds of Salaam: Music from Distant Lands
Enjoy sounds of Asia and the Middle East – music that has been shaped over centuries by amazingly vibrant and distinct musical traditions.
Find out moreHalloween Mākete 2026
Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October Market Square
Trick or treat! Garden City Market is creeping back for two special nights of Halloween fun at The Arts Centre.
Free
Tuku Iho
Wednesday 28 October – Saturday 14 November 2026 Common Room
Welcome to Tuku Iho, an exhibition by senior tauira from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi.
Free
Friends Fundraising Open Garden 2026
Sunday 6 December 2026
Join the Friends of the Arts Centre for a special visit to the Blue House in Amberley, over an acre of naturalistic and dense planting, a beautifully curated summer-dry garden in North Canterbury.
NEW WORKS | Emma Camden + Zara Dolan + Kara Burrowes
Thursday 24 September to Saturday 31 October Library
NEW WORKS showcases recent creations by sculptor Emma Camden, printmaker Zara Dolan, and mixed media artist Kara Burrowes; three artists, three distinct styles.
Free
Rising Stars Concert Series 2026
On specific Tuesdays Great Hall
Rising Stars is a Tuesday lunchtime concert series that focuses on encouraging, nurturing and providing a performance platform for emerging young musicians.
Arts Centre Chamber Series: The American Experimentalists
Monday 9 November 2026 Great Hall
Join staff and students from UC Music as they celebrate modernist masterworks in the Victorian splendour of the Great Hall.
City Night Market
Every Friday Market Square
Christchurch has a brand-new Friday night destination! Experience an evening of delicious street food, specialty drinks, live music, and a vibrant atmosphere.
Free
Urns and Ash - Exhibition by Jordie MacDonald
Wednesday 30 September to Friday 30 October Boys’ High
Jordie is a ceramic artist living in Ōtautahi who creates families of work with local geology which represent time and place. This collection is grounded in the raw materials of Aotearoa, with every e
Free
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.