Help reopen The Arts Centre

The Covid-19 pandemic reminds us how music, visual and performing arts, and creative endeavour of all kinds can nurture, delight and refresh us as human beings. Creativity is at the heart of human wellbeing. It enables us to express ourselves and to engage with those around us. It comforts and encourages us in a world that looks so uncertain.

The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora is home to arts and creativity in Ōtautahi Christchurch, but as a result of Covid-19 we have experienced a major loss of revenue, including from ticketed events, venue hire, Rutherford’s Den and shop income, tenant's rent, and face-to-face fundraising events.

Even before the pandemic, The Arts Centre had been living hand to mouth:

- We are a charitable trust.

- We get no ongoing council or central government funding.

- We have barely recovered from the devastating earthquakes of 2010-11.

- Over two-thirds of the site is restored and strengthened but raising enough money to cover our annual operating costs and complete the site restoration will be our toughest challenge yet.

As a centre for the arts we've been re-building our programme of public events (music, dance, visual art) and creative activities for children. We have opened Pūmanawa, our community exhibition space. We have revived The Arts Centre Mākete and the Creative Residency programme.

BUT

We need support to keep the ARTS in The Arts Centre.

In response to the pandemic, all staff took a pay cut and we are receiving the government’s wage subsidy. Unfortunately, that is not enough to close the gap.

By supporting The Arts Centre you help maintain advice and vital infrastructure for creative practitioners – residencies, commissions, performance and exhibition opportunities.

When the time comes, we want to be able to welcome Christchurch people back to a lively Arts Centre that supports diverse creative communities and offers creative experiences for all.

Can you help us reopen the doors?

PS: We are following public health advice and would only reopen when it is safe to do so. At Alert Level 3, all our public-facing activity is online only. Some face-to-face activities may be safe at Alert Level 2, with appropriate precautions; others might have to wait until Alert Level 1.