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New Creative Residents at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre

News

With much anticipation and excitement, the Olivia Spencer Bower residency is returning to Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre. A longstanding residency prior to the 2010/11 earthquakes, this partnership will once again see The Arts Centre annually host an emerging artist specialising in the fields of painting and sculpture. Amanda Newall won this esteemed award and will be based onsite from May until December this year, working on a new exhibition, Blue Ted. The Oliver Spencer Bower residencies began in 1987 and are renowned as an invaluable and prestigious award for Aotearoa visual artists. The Olivia Spencer Bower award is supported annually by Perpetual Guardian.

Accommodation

Visit

The Observatory Hotel

Accommodation

The much-awaited Observatory Hotel at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre is set to capture the hearts of its first guests with its unique mix of Gothic Revival architecture, early Canterbury history and a very modern take on Arts and Crafts interior styling.

‘In the beginning, there was Rage’ a Bogan Gala 2022

News

Dust off your sharkies and comb back your mullet because bogans are taking over Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre for a mid-winter rage fest!

Observatory Tower and Exhibition Tours

Sunday 18 and 25 October 2026

Join a guided tour of the Observatory Tower and hear the stories of how it has been used from 1896 to today. Find out about the amazing heritage restoration of the part-collapsed Tower. View Te Waiatatanga Mai o te Atua The Song of the Gods exhibition on the first floor, then climb the 75 wooden stairs right to the top to the Dome Room, which houses the magnificently restored Townsend Teece Telescope from 1864.

Sculptural Art Takes Centre Stage in Ōtautahi

News

Sculptural Art Takes Centre Stage in Ōtautahi The Arts Centre Sculpture Festival is back for its third consecutive year, making it an annual fixture on the Ōtautahi arts calendar.

Thank you for helping restore the Observatory Tower

Support

Eleven years after the Canterbury earthquakes of 2011, the magnificent and unique Observatory Tower is completely restored and towering once more over the South Quadrangle.
Three years of intense deconstruction and reconstruction work have ensured that the Gothic Revival Observatory Tower is as good as new, with beautiful new stonework faithfully hand-crafted as the architect Benjamin Mountfort intended in 1896.

Become a Friend of the Arts Centre

Support

The Friends of the Arts Centre is an independent organisation who support and promote The Arts Centre by volunteering and fundraising for specific projects at The Arts Centre.

Off Centre, a celebration of a glorious restoration

News

A festival bursting with music, comedy, theatre, food, a market, and vibrant entertainment is coming to Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre. It will be a weekend spectacular, from the 3-5 March 2023, for all ages bringing to the forefront The Arts Centre’s unique spots, amazing retailers, and stunning restored heritage spaces that are perfect for creativity.