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Nau Mai, Haere Mai
Mā te pohewa mā te auaha hoki, ka whakapuaki ngā kura e huna ana. With imagination and creativity a hidden jewel can be revealed. Welcome to Toi Ōtautahi.

Nau Mai, Welcome to Toi Ōtautahi – The virtual arts office for Ōtautahi, Christchurch.

Toi Ōtautahi is a partnership project between Christchurch City Council, Creative NZ, Rātā Foundation, Mana Whenua, and Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

Christchurch has produced some of this country’s best known and most celebrated artists and artworks, and Ōtautahi continues to be a place where innovation and radical creativity flourishes. We are unapologetic supporters and champions for the significant role the city and its creatives have played, and continue to play in Aotearoa.

We want this site to celebrate all that is creative in the city and its wider environs and we want you to be part of it. Whether you’re a creative, an organisation, an audience member, a supporter or a visitor to this city, let us know what we can do to help make Ōtautahi the best city for creativity in Aotearoa.

Latest News
Events & Exhibitions

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Presents Memory / Lapse – a Circuit Moving Image Panel Discussion

As the exhibition Memory/Lapse at The Arts Centre comes to a close – five arts practitioners discuss the role of memory in creating our individual and collective futures…
Book Launch, Events & Exhibitions
Scorpio Books Launch of ‘Tony Fomison – Life of the Artist’ by Mark Forman
Scorpio Books and Auckland University Press warmly invite you to the Ōtautahi Christchurch launch of Tony Fomison: Life of the Artist by Mark Forman.
Authors, Literature
Events & Exhibitions
Tīrama Mai Keeping it Fresh for 2025
New venues, offerings and artworks will keep things fresh at this year’s Tīrama Mai event.
Ngā Toi Māori, Visual Arts
Opportunities & Proposals
The Art Centre Shop is Looking for Local Makers…
The Arts Centre Shop is seeking exceptional prints and artworks that are inspired by The Arts Centre, its culture, and…
Events & Exhibitions
‘Becoming: A Visual Exploration of Success’ – Lily McCondach
This exhibition captures the universal experience of striving for success, featuring abstract portrait images that visually interpret the stages of…
Photography, Visual Arts
News
Court Theatre Opens
The Court Theatre has opened its doors in its new home in Gloucester Street. TVNZ was there to capture all…
Performance, Theatre
News
Celebrating NZ Music Month with Paul Kean of The Bats
We celebrate NZ Music Month with Paul Kean of The Bats
Indy & Alternative, Music
Calendar of Events
08.05 – 02.08 2025

Speak of Homeland

11:00 AM
Speak of Homeland at The Central Art Gallery – 8 May until August.
16.05 – 08.06 2025

Meter Marker at The Green Room

5:00 PM
Meter Marker – an exhibition by Evelyn Fink and Gareth Brighton
The Green Room, Toi Auaha, 5 Worcester Boulevard
16.05 2025

The Friends of Christchurch Art Gallery Auction Event

6:00 PM – 8:00 pm
Get your friends together and raise your paddles to a good cause in support of the arts!
Christchurch Art Gallery
16.05 – 14.06 2025

‘Aimata Awards & Exhibition

6:00 PM
Fibre Gallery and Tagata Moana Trust are proud to present the inaugural ‘Aimata Awards – celebrating the vibrant creativity of…
Fibre Gallery
28.05 2025

Ariana Tikao at the Christchurch Art Gallery

6:00 PM – 7:00 pm
Ariana Tikao will be reading poetry and doing some taonga puoro in response to He Kapuka Oneone in the gallery…
Christchurch Art Gallery

SPOTLIGHT ON : Tīrama Mai

SPOTLIGHT ON : Tīrama Mai

New venues, offerings and artworks will keep things fresh at this year’s Tīrama Mai event.

Marking Te Tau Hou – the Māori new year – the free Council-produced festival provides a meaningful opportunity to learn and engage in Puanga Matariki and Māori creation stories.

With the official Matariki holiday on Friday 20 June this year, the festival is being held from Wednesday 18 June to Sunday 22 June. Wednesday’s programming, including an artist panel talk and a performance, will run from 4.30pm to 9.30pm, while Thursday to Sunday runs from 2.30pm to 9.30pm.

We’ll have a new animation by Sam Emerson (Ngāi Tahu) and Josh Montgomery (aka Drows, Ngāi Tūāhuriri/Ngāi Tahu) projected onto the Harley Chambers building, on the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Cambridge Terrace, lighting up at dusk.

There’s also a new vibrant work by Xoë Hall (Ngāi Tahu), enhanced by sound created by DJ, producer and sound designer Bea Gladding (aka Mr Meaty Boy, Ngāti Porou/Ngā Puhi).

For the young ones, Māui Studios will be hosting a multi-player marae-themed Fortnite gaming experience under the glass canopy beside Altiora at The Art Centre.

Other new works include colourful sculptures by Alix Ashworth (Waitaha/Ngāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) and by Turumeke Harrington (Kāi Tahu, Rangitāne).

Opportunities
Opportunities & Proposals

Eastside Spring – Call for Artists

Eastside Gallery is pleased to invite local artists to contribute to the 6th of its 7 open call shows for 2025: Eastside Spring: 8 September – 4 October 2025
Visual Arts
Jobs
Te Puna o Waiwhetū Christchurch Art Gallery is Looking for an Audience Engagement Coordinator
Te Puna o Waiwhetū Christchurch Art Gallery is looking for an Audience Engagement Coordinator to plan and deliver a vibrant,…
Jobs
Te Puna o Waiwhetū Christchurch Art Gallery is Looking for a Learning & Audience Engagement Team Leader
Te Puna o Waiwhetū Christchurch Art Gallery is looking for an exceptional individual to lead, motivate and develop the Gallery’s…
Opportunities & Proposals
Big Screen Symposium Scholarship on Offer
Screen CanterburyNZ are offering two regional scholarships to the Big Screen Symposium – Apply Now!
Film and Moving Image
Opportunities & Proposals, Residencies
Local Writers – Apply Now for Berlin Residency
Local writers! Creative NZ is taking applications for the Berlin Writers’ Residency – closing date is 7 May.
Authors, Literature
Opportunities & Proposals
Stoddart Cottage Call for Artists
Stoddart Cottage Gallery is currently calling for proposals from individual artists, groups, or those interested in taking part in group…
Visual Arts
Opportunities & Proposals
Applications for the Global ‘Ocean Song Project’ Open
Applications are invited to be part of The Ocean Song Project — a youth-led, international initiative to raise awareness for ocean…

SPOTLIGHT ON: Studying the Creative Industries

SPOTLIGHT ON: Studying the Creative Industries

Spark your creativity – Study and career info session at ARA 

If you dream of a career in the creative industries, come along to this free information session about certificates in digital media and design, creativity and fashion, and the diplomas, degrees and careers they can pathway into.

The info evening is at 5pm on Thursday 22 May at Ara’s City campus – you’ll need to register here.

Check out the programmes here.

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