Neighbourhood

The Silversmiths’ Guild of Canterbury Inc was formed by a group of enthusiastic people with a common interest in working with precious and semi-precious metals.

The Guild offers Level 1 (beginner), Level 2 (intermediate) and Level 3 (advanced) Jewellery Classes at our Studio at The Tannery, Woolston. Classes run Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and Thursday mornings.

We have a growing number of Silversmiths’ Guild Members who enjoy studio time, members’ workshops, and much more. You can apply for membership on completion of our Level 1 and Level 2 courses and take on the challenge of a Level 3 class for advanced silvermiths skills.

Movement Art Practice (MAP) is a Not-For-Profit contemporary dance organisation based in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

MAP believes in an Aotearoa where contemporary dance and performance is woven into the cultural fabric of our community.

MAP runs community dance classes, artist residencies, and workshops.

Jolt is an inclusive dance company based in Otautahi. We offer dance Training, workshops, performances and teacher training in inclusive dance for and by people with intellectual disabilities. Jolt have been pioneers of innovative, inclusive dance practice for over 20 years. Our programmes challenge mainstream perspectives about dance, disability, and difference.

Addresses: Classes run at Opawa Community church (corner Aynsley Terrace and Opawa Road) and Salvation Army 177 LInwood Avenue

Website https://joltdance.co.nz/

Form Gallery exists to showcase and retail the work of New Zealand contemporary object artists.

Form Gallery was established in 1993 by Koji Miyazaki in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square, New Zealand. During the 10 years in this location locals and tourists enjoyed the unique wares the gallery had to offer and would return regularly to see new pieces. Beautiful hand-made objects in glass and ceramic, sculptural work and fine artistic jewellery could all be found in one place.Form moved to the Christchurch Art Gallery in 2003, where it remained until the Christchurch earthquakes of 2011. Sadly, most of the artworks were destroyed in the earthquakes and the building itself underwent a dramatic change as it was converted into the Civil Defence headquarters. Limited relocation options were available due to red-zoning and destruction, artist studio and exhibition spaces became almost non-existent. In order to continue to give artists a place to exhibit, Koji opened up his home in Cashmere to support artists and the art community, Form Gallery operated from there until 2012.

Form Gallery can now be found on what is affectionately known as “Form Corner” in the Christchurch suburb of Sydenham, just outside of the central city square. It has been a fast growing suburb in the art scene since the earthquakes, many artists and art-related businesses have found a home there and Form Gallery is proud to be located at its front gate on Colombo Street.

Southern Ballet has trained generations of dancers, many of whom have achieved principal dancer status both in Aotearoa and the world.

The Court Theatre is a professional theatre company in Addington, that caters for all tastes – from comedy to improv to drama.

A seven-piece work that stands four metres tall at its highest point and moves from outside the library to indoors.

With gardens considered to be among the finest in New Zealand, Ōhinetahi sits just 20 minutes over the Port Hills from Christchurch, in the delightful setting of Governor’s Bay.

Today, Ōhinetahi is as well known for its displays of art, architectural works and sculptures as it is for its magnificent grounds. But the gardens have a special significance, dating back to 1865 when then-owner and keen botanist Thomas H Potts began planting them.

Relics Jewellery Design is created by Fleur de Thier.

‘Having been involved in the performing arts industry for 30 years, this is a satisfying tangent to my creative journey. Tapping into the DNA of my artisan ancestors in Normanday, France, I’ve been exploring making bold, organic pieces that resemble relics of the past.”

Relics Jewellery can be found at the Lyttelton Market on Saturdays.

Eels by Bing Dawe.

Steel sculpture of three eels on top of a steel hoop outside Parklands Community Library.

‘Joy of Eternal Spring’ by  Llewelyn Summers.

The work was installed early 2002,  initially on loan and then a became permanent work in 2004.

The National is a dedicated dealer gallery owned by Director Caroline Billing.

Specialising in contemporary jewellery by New Zealand and selected international artists, The National represents more than 40 jewellers and also exhibits sculptural ceramics, glass and object based works.

The gallery’s exhibition schedule seeks to act as a platform for the ideas and contexts that inform current practice. Billing is committed to showcasing established and emerging artists, with a curatorial focus on solo exhibitions of new work, as well as collaborative projects and curated group exhibitions.

XCHC (Exchange Christchurch) is a for purpose business set up to benefit the community by providing a place for creative practitioners to develop their practice, share ideas and knowledge, and connect with other creative practitioners. It was established in the post earthquake context as a response to the loss of space to develop and showcase creative work, but also in recognition of the creative explosion that happened post earthquake and the intention to foster its growth by providing a place for people to come together to develop their ideas.

An interarts space for creatives to produce, showcase, share and develop creative work. A space for testing creative ideas, connecting with opportunities and resources for developing creative practices and career

XCHC provides four unique yet connected areas: makerspace, showcase space, accommodation, and the cafe/bar. Their close proximity enables the casual exchange of knowledge between the creative disciplines. Additionally, by providing a place for creative practitioners to meet one another it lends to building a community of interest around the creative industries.

Māui is a production studio capable across creative disciplines, sustainable business practice serving global partners with digital outcomes grounded in Māori values and mātauranga.

Fiksate is an urban contemporary art gallery and artist studio space in Sydenham.

Established in 2015, Fiksate is passionate about showcasing and supporting the work of urban contemporary artists, those who have backgrounds in and take influence from graffiti, street art, post-graffiti and urban art more broadly.

The in-house artists range from painters to stencil artists, designers to multi-disciplinary practitioners and writers. Alongside a revolving schedule of exhibitions, Fiksate also hosts workshops and visiting artists.

Fiksate occupies a unique space in the Christchurch art community, providing opportunities to artists often marginalised by other entities, and a fresh take for audiences to engage with art and artists from some of the most significant art movements of our time. 

Photograph of Salvation Army Barracks by Jae Renault, 1982

Founded in 1891, iconic performing arts organisation Woolston Brass Inc. has remained true to its motto, Tohea Kia Kaha (Persevere, Be Strong).

Today the Woolston organisation has 120+ members across three brass bands: Woolston Junior Band, Woolston Concert Brass and Woolston Brass, and a Learners Group. Their leading Academy education programme teaches over 80 children and adults and provides a positive environment for them to learn music and engage with the community through concert performances, local and National contests.

Many Academy members progress to Christchurch’s iconic Woolston Brass, who are known for their musical excellence and versatility as a popular stage performer – whether it be in the concert hall performing to the Canterbury community in their annual concert series, or on the National, international, or local contest stage as New Zealand’s most successful contesting brass band.

Lyttelton Arts Factory (LAF) is a fully-equipped black box theatre in Lyttelton, Christchurch. It provides a blank canvas for creating theatre and for teaching the performing arts.

LAF’s vision is to be a dedicated space where practitioners of the performing arts can devise, rehearse, and present original works in one place.

LAF is the direct successor the the iconic Lyttelton venue The Loons. Under artistic director Mike Friend, the Loons venue and the Loons Circus Theatre Company had become major players in the local and national theatre scene. Then the venue was lost to the earthquakes of 2011.

On the back of the Loons’ popularity a major fund-raising intiative  brought in about $500,000 to establish the Lyttelton Arts Factory. Since opening in June 2016 LAF has resumed our commitment to Christchurch theatre.  We have presented theatre seasons  to over 10,000 people and taught over 130 students each year, ranging from year 1 – adults.

In addition to creating and staging new New Zealand theatre, LAF’s signature Cabarets and Quiz nights, born out of the heady days of The Loons, continue to delight Christchurch audiences who love the spectacle and comic entertainment.

Lyttelton Arts Factory is a not for profit organisation, overseen by a  registered charitable trust The Lyttelton Arts Factory Trust.