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Arts Centre restoration to hit half-way mark

The coming year is hugely exciting for the Arts Centre, with more than half the site progressively re-opening to the public. Buildings coloured green in the graphic above will open in 2016, joining the already-open Registry and Gymnasium buildings (coloured purple). New spaces include:

  • Great Hall - venue hire
  • Clock Tower - hospitality & Rutherford's Den interactive science experience
  • Common Room - art & education
  • Chemistry - UC Music and Classics departments & Logie Collection
  • Library - gallery & exhibition space
  • Workshop - power, heating and IT hub for the entire site.

If you're interested in being a part of the Arts Centre, please visit our leasing website to find out more. Get daily restoration updates by following us on on FacebookTumblr and Twitter.

 

Music and movies at Market Square

Enjoy local musician Katie Thompson's quirky take on country music when she opens for both the 6pm and 8pm free outdoor movie screenings on February 12 at Market SquareKatie has been carving her path through the country music scene in New Zealand for a number of years, with a unique sound that blends into genres as diverse as rock, pop and folk. 

The movie line-up: 6pm: Inside Out; 8pm: Back to the Future

Bring something to sit on and cash for drinks, ice-cream and popcorn. Please note that alcohol is available from the on-site bar and BYO is not permitted. Thanks to ilex Botanic Gardens for the loan of their beanbags. 

 

Māori design for reinstated finial 

 
 

Stonework that has not been seen on Chemistry since the 1930s is back and introduces a distinctly Māori flavour to the building.

Visible from the South Quad, the reinstated pinnacle is crowned by a finial featuring Māori decorative features including a tiki along with representations of strength, determination and eternity.

Arts Centre stonemason Jonathan Tye, pictured, handcrafted the finial over five weeks after seeking design guidance from Christchurch artist Riki Manuel. It took Jonathan about 10 weeks to craft the entire pinnacle.

The overall shape of the decorative finial is similar to the original stone feature that was 
removed from Chemistry as a safety measure following the devastating 1931 Napier earthquake. It is one of many heritage features being reinstated at the Arts Centre following decades of absence from the buildings.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Rutherford’s Den fit-out underway

The transformation of Rutherford's Den is taking shape, with the installation of joinery and bespoke, state-of-the-art equipment starting within the next month.

The cabinet pictured above will house an interactive screen - just one of the many
 high-tech features that aim to inspire visitors to see the world around them in a new light. View our gallery on Facebook to see recent restoration progress on Rutherford's Den, with the refurbished space due to open mid-2016.

Meanwhile, you can book now for the curriculum-linked Rutherford’s Den education programme being provided to schools via a mobile outreach service sponsored by Miles Toyota.  

 
 
 
 

Free WW1 exhibition

A free exhibition that tells the stories of New Zealanders who were part of World War One is coming to Market Square on February 20 and 21. Heartlanders: New Zealanders of the Great War is the National Army Museum's travelling exhibition that takes the stories of ordinary New Zealanders back to the communities where their journeys began. Be sure to come down and check out the original artefacts, film footage and photos. On daily from 9.30am–5.30pm.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Visitors flock to city

Canterbury Museum visitor numbers broke records last month and bookings are running hot for Christchurch Art Gallery's Tangle that has its New Zealand premiere this weekend. 

More than 100,000 people visited our neighbouring Canterbury Museum and its special exhibition Quake City in January, the highest-ever visitation recorded in a single month. Meanwhile, if you're looking for some unique family fun this weekend, it's not too late to get a free ticket for Tangle.