School Holiday Fun
23 September - 8 October 2023
Venue: Arts Centre wide
These school holidays, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre will be bursting with creative activities to inspire, enthuse and spark the imagination of tamariki.
Heaps of creative fun for pre-schoolers right through to teens: instrument making, fudge decorating, circus arts, ceramics, painting, felt making, dancing, crafting, singing, weaving, or African drumming.
Classic films, Jurassic Park and Wizard of Oz will be showing - great for kids and adults alike!
Also, learn how Star Wars draws on Ancient Greek and Roman mythology (and go in the draw for awesome Lego!).
Events & Activities
Creative activities with The White Room Creative Space
Fri 6 Oct | Sat 7 Oct | Mon 16 Oct | Tue 17 Oct | Fri 20 Oct School of Art
A range of FREE hands-on creative activities for all ages, including frottage (rubbing interesting textures), life drawing and using the unique perspex "drawing window" to create a cool artwork. Find out more
Circus Workshops
28, 29, 30 Sep & 5, 6, 7 Oct 2023 The Gym
Come and learn amazing circus arts skills at Christchurch's newest performing arts place-to-be, Altiora. Find out more
May the Myth be with you!
23 September - 6 October 2023 Chemistry
Ancient Greek and Roman myth can be seen everywhere in pop culture even Star Wars. Find all the Star Wars characters hiding in the gallery complete the activity sheet and go into the draw to win LEGO! Find out more
School Holidays at Paint & Sip Studio
23 September - 6 October 2023 School of Art
Join us during the Spring School Holidays for an afternoon of painting, crafts and creativity! Bring your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and anyone young or young-at-heart to these engaging sessions Find out more
Rutherford's Den Free Tour
23 September - 8 October 2023 Ground floor, Clock Tower
Join Arts Centre staff for a free 20-minute guided tour of Rutherford's Den tailored for children. Find out more
Botanical Explorations
26 & 27 September 2023 School of Art
Join the tiny toy shop team in the beautiful light filled Maker Workshop for a series of creative children’s holiday workshops. Find out more
Self Portrait Explorations
3 & 4 October 2023 School of Art
Join the tiny toy shop team in the beautiful light filled Maker Workshop for a series of creative children’s holiday workshops. Find out more
Wizard of Oz
25 & 27 September 2023 West Lecture
When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to me Find out more
Fudge Shape Decorating
26 & 28 September 2023 Ground floor, Boys’ High
Pop into The Fudge Cottage and decorate your own special fudge shape. Find out more
Musical Instrument Making
27 & 28 September 2023 School of Art
Learn from a specialist in making homemade instruments from household materials and recycling. This is a very creative workshop where kids can demonstrate their creativity with music, art and craft.
Find out more
Holiday Fun Zone
27 - 29 September & 4 - 6 October 2023 North Quad
Enjoy outdoor lawn games, play a tune on the community piano and lounge on the beanbags while socking up the heritage surroundings. Find out more
Storytime at the UC Teece Museum
27 September 2023 Chemistry
Join us for a fun storytime session that will transport you to ancient Rome and Greece. You will also have the opportunity to discover some cool objects that can tell stories too. Find out more
Skiffle and Junk Band Jam
27 & 28 September 2023 North Quad
An amazing opportunity for kids (and big kids) to have a free music jam with Davey and his quirky, slightly bonkers unconventional home made instruments. Find out more
SOLD OUT: Wet Felt Making
27 September 2023 First floor, Boys’ High
In this workshop, Simone Bensdorp will teach youngsters how to make felt using a traditional wet felting technique. Find out more
Creative Day Out
27 September & 4 October 2023 School of Art
Looking for a fun and inclusive place for your creative child to spend the day? Join us, the curriculum is specially crafted for children aged 8 - 13, no prior experience needed.
Find out more
Music with Michal Spring Sing!
27 & 28 September 2023 Great Hall
Let's sing for spring! Join Michal for a fun, interactive, joyful music show. Playing a selection of her popular music as well as beloved children's classics. Find out more
SOLD OUT: Ceramic Workshop
29 September School of Art
With guidance from ceramic artist, Emma Turner, have a go at making a ceramic bowl for your muesli or Weet-bix! Find out more
Superhero Circus
29 September & 6 October 2023 Engineering
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Super Duper Girl and The Ladderman, here to save the day with stupendous stunts, amazing escapes and arbitrary alliteration! Find out more
UC Percussion
29 September 2023 Great Hall
Join UC music students on a lunchtime concert of adventurous percussion music. Music from NZ composers paired with international artists. Find out more
Drum and Dance! Joyful dancing to live drumming!
1 October 2023 Great Hall
Join us as a family of all ages to have fun together! Dance is fun, powerful, liberating, uplifting, transformative! So come on adults and kids alike, liven up your Sunday morning with this fun event. Find out more
Dekaworwor West African Drum Ensemble And Mundi Dancers
1 October 2023 North Quad
Dekaworwor are a well-loved African drumming group who perform rhythms and songs from West Africa with the Mundi dancers. Find out more
SOLD OUT: SCAPE Artist Workshops
2 & 5 October 2023 School of Art
Work with artist, Priscilla Rose Howe, through the SCAPE Public Art Education Programme. Create your own artwork inspired by Priscilla’s work and develop awesome new skills. Find out more
Jurassic Park
2 & 4 October 2023 West Lecture
To celebrate it's 30th anniversary, Jurassic Park roars back onto the big screen. Reopen the gates and enjoy Steven Spielberg's ultimate thrill ride like never before. Find out more
Kids' Spring Drumming Workshop
5 October 2023 Engineering
Learn to play African drums in a drum circle! Find out more
Mundi trio
5 October 2023 North Quad
Filled with joy and exuberant energy, Mundi has captured hearts across the land and far-flung seas with a blend of Brazilian and African drums, an array of flutes, voice and guitar. Find out more
Spring Crafting: Putiputi Flax Flowers and Paper Butterflies
6 October 2023 Great Hall
Make a putiputi flax flower and a colourful paper butterfly with the Kahu Collective and The Arts Centre team in the beautiful Great Hall. Find out more
Celebrate Mahuru Māori with Loopy Tunes
6 October 2023 North Quad
A 30-minute fun, engaging, and very interactive, bilingual musical performance for tamariki that celebrates our beautiful te reo Māori. Find out more
Paperdoll Fashion Design Workshop
Sunday 1 October School of Art
Unleash your creativity designing outfits for your gorgeous printed cardboard paper doll, using pretty patterned papers. Find out more
Labyrinth
27 September 2023 West Lecture
The classic movie where Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly) is a bratty teenager who’s been saddled with babysitting her infant brother and the mystery and adventure that unfolds. Find out more
The Goonies
Wednesday 4 October West Lecture
The classic movie when two brothers find out they might lose their house they are desperate to find a way to keep their home. Find out more
Other Events You Might Like
Paperdoll Fashion Design Workshop
Sunday 1 October School of Art
Unleash your creativity designing outfits for your gorgeous printed cardboard paper doll, using pretty patterned papers.
A Heritage of Big Bands
Saturday 21 October Engineering Laneway
The Christchurch Big Band Festival celebrates some of our finest big band heritage.
Free
Self Portrait Explorations
3 & 4 October 2023 School of Art
Join the tiny toy shop team in the beautiful light filled Maker Workshop for a series of creative children’s holiday workshops.
Paperdoll Fashion Design Workshop
Sunday 1 October School of Art
Unleash your creativity designing outfits for your gorgeous printed cardboard paper doll, using pretty patterned papers.
A Heritage of Big Bands
Saturday 21 October Engineering Laneway
The Christchurch Big Band Festival celebrates some of our finest big band heritage.
Free
Self Portrait Explorations
3 & 4 October 2023 School of Art
Join the tiny toy shop team in the beautiful light filled Maker Workshop for a series of creative children’s holiday workshops.