Arts Centre opens more studios where artists and the public mix

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre is thrilled to announce the expansion of The Arts Centre Shop & Studios, welcoming three new local artists and Grace Patisserie as its new hospitality tenant.

The Studios, now home to fifteen artists in total, are let to working artists who welcome interaction with the public, offering visitors the chance to see art being made live. The Arts Centre Shop also sells work by these artists and many other local and New Zealand makers, including products that celebrate The Arts Centre, New Zealand art, and native flora and fauna. Interim Director Daniel Stirland says it's a pleasure to welcome new tenants to the extension. “Open artist studios are part of The Arts Centre’s DNA. The studios enable people to encounter artists at work, and the artists find that connection very fulfilling. The cluster of studios also enables artists to connect with each other,” Mr Stirland says.

Well-known to lovers of fine food in Wellington, Grace Patisserie has joined the move south to Ōtautahi Christchurch and established its new home next to The Arts Centre Shop & Studios. The patisserie is renowned for its signature macarons, petit gâteau, and specialist teas, along with special occasion cakes made to order.

Daniel Stirland is sure the new hospitality tenant will draw people to the studios, saying “Grace Patisserie will be a destination in its own right, and a wonderful excuse for visitors to linger.” Owner Mariah Grace says The Arts Centre felt like a natural home for Grace Patisserie. “I love the sense of creativity and history here—it’s such a beautiful setting for what we create. The response has already been incredibly warm, and we can’t wait to open our doors and share our love of the pastry arts with Christchurch.”
Supporting Artists and Community

Every purchase made at The Arts Centre Shop & Studios supports the artists directly and contributes to The Arts Centre’s ongoing vitality as a creative hub for Ōtautahi. Proceeds from the shop also help maintain the heritage buildings and support The Arts Centre as a place where art is made, shared, and experienced.

New Artists

• Linelle Stacey is a full-time artist working in acrylics, oils, and pastels painting mostly South Island landscapes. Her work revels in the colours and textures of Aotearoa, particularly the effects of a low sun on sea, hills, and mountains, striving to capture the clarity and colour of the scenery in the brief, surreal minutes before the sun drops below the horizon.
• Eszter Luca is a Christchurch-based artist inspired by the natural beauty of Aotearoa. Her work explores colour, light, native birdlife, and layered acrylic techniques, often incorporating subtle gold details that shift with changing light. Alongside her original paintings, she creates bespoke bridal bouquet artworks—personal commissions that transform meaningful flowers into timeless, hand-painted pieces.
• Charlie Lattimore is the owner and jeweller at Jewellery by Design NZ, working closely with clients to create one-of-a-kind jewellery, engagement rings, and meaningful remodels. What began as a fascination with gemstones has developed into a design-led practice focused on proportion, wearability, and craftsmanship.