Christchurch Arts Centre

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Christchurch Arts Centre
CanterburyCollegeChemistry gobeirne.jpg
Old Chemistry building (1910)
Map of Christchurch Central City
Map of Christchurch Central City
Location within the Christchurch Central City
Former names Canterbury College
General information
Type various uses
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Inaugurated 1870s (first part of building)
Design and construction
Architect Benjamin Mountfort
Samuel Hurst Seager
Designated 15 February 1990
Reference no. 7301

The Christchurch Arts Centre was 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 historic building.[1]

Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the complex was closed for major repairs. More than half the site will be progressively re-opening through 2016.[2]

Heritage registration

All buildings of the Arts Centre, with the exception of the Student Union building, were registered as heritage buildings by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust on 15 February 1990 with registration number 7301 classified as A and B. With the change of the classification system, the buildings later became a Category I listing.[3][4]

Usage

Before the earth quakes, the Centre included speciality shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries, theatres and cinemas. The Court Theatre is a professional theatre company founded in 1971 and based at the Arts Centre from 1976 until 2010.

Although closed for several years after the quakes, businesses are now beginning to return, the weekend market has returned in the summer; and the Centre is again the site of festivals and special events.[2]

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.

Governance

Arts Centre of Christchurch Incorporated was created in 1974, when the University completed its move to the new Ilam campus, and ownership of the site was transferred in 1978.

The Christchurch Arts Centre is governed by a trust board. Its membership is:[5]

  • John Simpson (chair)
  • Deane Simmonds (deputy chair)
  • Martin Hadley (secretary/treasurer)
  • Derek Anderson
  • Garry Jeffery (representing the New Zealand Historic Places Trust)
  • Ian Lochhead (representing the University of Canterbury)
  • Joanna Mackenzie (representing the Christchurch Civic Trust)
  • Deborah McCormick
  • Cindy Robinson
  • Denise Sheet (representing Ngāi Tahu)
  • Sue Wells (representing Christchurch City Council)
The Great Hall (1882)
Entrance to the Great Hall
North Quadrangle (1877)

Proposed School of Music

In 2009 strong debate emerged over a proposal to use the Arts Centre car park located off Hereford Street for a School of Music for the University of Canterbury. 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.[6][7][7][8] Ultimately the proposal was abandoned.

2010 earthquake damage

In the early hours of 4 September 2010, a major earthquake 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.[9]

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 entire complex was 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 NZ$100m.[10][11] The entire restoration project is now scheduled for completion in 2019, and the cost is estimated at NZ$290m.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Creating Futures", The Arts Center
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Trust Board membership, accessed 29 Nov 2009[dead link]
  6. ↑ University of Canterbury information on the music school proposal. Music.canterbury.ac.nz. Retrieved on 9 July 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.soac.org.nz/ SOAC.org.nz: Website opposing inappropriate development of the heritage area
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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