Christchurch Heritage Festival 2023 at The Arts Centre
Friday 6 October - Monday 23 October (Labour Day) 2023
Venue: Arts Centre wide
Join us in exploring the heritage of Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre over the Christchurch Heritage Festival 2023.
The theme this year is Our Stories of Living and Learning, and is an opportunity to share the stories of the past that link us to this place. He tātai muka, he tātai tangata – weave together the strands, weave together the people.
This programme is supported by the Christchurch City Council Heritage Festival Community Grant.
Festival events
Revival Exhibition - Story of The Arts Centre restoration
Open daily 9am - 5pm | Boys' High building | Free
Hear stories of The Arts Centre restoration from the people involved; see and touch the materials and tools they used; learn about the future of the revived Arts Centre. This beautiful exhibition is jam-packed with artefacts, photographs, and a historical timeline. Find out more
A "Walk Back in Time" around Canterbury College
Sat 7 Oct | Thu 12 Oct | Sat 14 Oct | Sun 15 Oct | Tue 17 Oct | Sun 22 Oct | Mon 23 Oct Clock Tower
Join in an informative and fact-filled guided walking tour around The Arts Centre site, where your knowledgeable WALK Christchurch tour guide will thrill you with stories from the past. Find out more
Creative activities with The White Room Creative Space
Fri 6 Oct | Sat 7 Oct | Mon 16 Oct | Tue 17 Oct | Fri 20 Oct School of Art
A range of FREE hands-on creative activities for all ages, including frottage (rubbing interesting textures), life drawing and using the unique perspex "drawing window" to create a cool artwork. Find out more
Practical Heritage panel discussion
16 October 2023 Cloisters Studio
Join a panel of experts in heritage restoration for a discussion on how The Arts Centre has been seismically strengthened and adapted during its restoration. Find out more
The History and Restoration of the 1864 Townsend Teece Telescope
19 October 2023 Cloisters Studio
Associate Professor Karen Pollard from the University of Canterbury will give a fascinating illustrated talk on the amazing history and restoration of the 1864 Townsend Teece Telescope. Find out more
BITER – the whole beast
10 October 2023 Chemistry
The UC Teece Museum will provide a fitting backdrop for a full read through of this collection of poetry based on ancient Greek epigrams. Find out more
For the promotion of sound learning: Canterbury College and the pedagogy of ‘things’
Tuesday 17 October 2023 Chemistry
From the lab to the library, this free talk by guest speaker Bojana Rimbovska will explore the material culture of teaching and learning at Canterbury College. Find out more
Convivium – classics at Canterbury
Thursday 19 October 2023 Chemistry
When Canterbury College opened in 1873, Classics was considered a cornerstone of a good education and Latin was a required subject. Find out more
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Self Portrait Explorations
3 & 4 October 2023 School of Art
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A Hauntingly Historic Halloween
Tuesday 31 October 2023 Rutherford’s Den
Inviting all you little ghosts and goblins to step into the eerie world of Hauntingly Historic Halloween, an unforgettable experience for kids ages 12 years and under!
A Heritage of Big Bands
Saturday 21 October Engineering Laneway
The Christchurch Big Band Festival celebrates some of our finest big band heritage.
Free
Self Portrait Explorations
3 & 4 October 2023 School of Art
Join the tiny toy shop team in the beautiful light filled Maker Workshop for a series of creative children’s holiday workshops.