Christchurch Arts Centre
Encyclopedia
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch
, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury
buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort
. It is listed as a Category I building (register number 7301) by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
.
The Court Theatre
is a professional theatre company. It was founded in 1971 and has been at the Arts Centre since 1976.
The Twelve Local Heroes
is a series of bronze busts located on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th century.
campus, and ownership of the site was transferred in 1978.
The Christchurch Arts Centre is governed by a trust board. Its membership is:
's funding role for a university facility.
An organisation opposing the proposal, Save Our Arts Centre (SOAC) was formed, with Dame Ann Hercus
acting as spokesperson. Ultimately the proposal was abandoned.
caused extensive damage throughout the region. The arts centre buildings suffered serious damage; collapsing chimneys damaged the great hall, the observatory and the clock tower. Arts Centre director Ken Franklin commented that prior measures taken to reinforce the buildings may have prevented additional damage.
This will take years and will most likely cost over 100 million dollars
.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort
Benjamin Mountfort
Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort was an English emigrant to New Zealand, where he became one of that country's most prominent 19th century architects. He was instrumental in shaping the city of Christchurch's unique architectural identity and culture, and was appointed the first official Provincial...
. It is listed as a Category I building (register number 7301) by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
.
Usage
The Centre includes speciality shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries, theatres and cinemas. There is also a weekend market, and the Centre is the site of many festivals and special events.The Court Theatre
Court Theatre (New Zealand)
The Court Theatre is a professional theatre company based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1971 and located in the Christchurch Arts Centre from 1976 until the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and is currently developing a new site from which to resume activities before the end...
is a professional theatre company. It was founded in 1971 and has been at the Arts Centre since 1976.
The Twelve Local Heroes
Twelve Local Heroes
The Twelve Local Heroes is a series of bronze busts located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th...
is a series of bronze busts located on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th century.
Governance
Arts Centre of Christchurch Incorporated was created in 1974, when the University completed its move to the new IlamIlam, New Zealand
Ilam is a leafy suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand about five kilometres west of the city centre. It is the location of the University of Canterbury....
campus, and ownership of the site was transferred in 1978.
The Christchurch Arts Centre is governed by a trust board. Its membership is:
- John Simpson (chair)
- Deane Simmonds (deputy chair)
- Martin Hadley (secretary/treasurer)
- Derek Anderson
- Garry Jeffery (representing the New Zealand Historic Places TrustNew Zealand Historic Places TrustThe New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
) - Ian Lochhead (representing the University of Canterbury)
- Joanna Mackenzie (representing the Christchurch Civic Trust)
- Deborah McCormick
- Cindy Robinson
- Denise Sheet (representing Ngāi TahuNgāi TahuNgāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori iwi of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kāi Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kāti Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior...
) - Sue WellsSue WellsSue Wells is a media personality and city councillor in Christchurch, New Zealand. She was first elected onto the Shirley-Papanui community board in 1995. In 1998 and 2001, she was a councillor in the Heathcote ward...
(representing Christchurch City CouncilChristchurch City CouncilThe Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
)
Proposed School of Music
It was proposed in 2009 to use the Arts Centre car park located off Hereford Street for a School of Music for the University of Canterbury. Strong debate emerged over the proposal. Proponents valued the additional vibrancy that this would bring into the Cultural Precinct, and supported the university moving back to their original site. Opponents felt that the proposed building was out of scale with the existing Arts Centre and that the building design would detract from the heritage value. There was also concern about the Christchurch City CouncilChristchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
's funding role for a university facility.
An organisation opposing the proposal, Save Our Arts Centre (SOAC) was formed, with Dame Ann Hercus
Ann Hercus
Dame Margaret Ann Sayers Hercus DCMG, BA, LLB , best known as Ann Hercus, is a New Zealand politician and diplomat...
acting as spokesperson. Ultimately the proposal was abandoned.
 |
 |
 |
2010 earthquake damage
In the early hours of 4 September 2010, a major earthquake2010 Canterbury earthquake
The 2010 Canterbury earthquake was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 4:35 am on local time ....
caused extensive damage throughout the region. The arts centre buildings suffered serious damage; collapsing chimneys damaged the great hall, the observatory and the clock tower. Arts Centre director Ken Franklin commented that prior measures taken to reinforce the buildings may have prevented additional damage.
2011 earthquake damage
The Arts Centre was very badly damaged in the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. All historic buildings are inaccessible to the public and the complex is closed for the foreseeable future. Nobody died in the Arts Centre. There is a general commitment to rebuild and repair most buildings, with the possible exception of the Observatory Tower, which completely collapsed.This will take years and will most likely cost over 100 million dollars
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
.