Te Matatiki Toi Ora: The Spring of Living Art
A showcase of 50 years of creativity
Thursday 23 October
Time
7.00PM – 9.00PM
Pricing
Venue: Great Hall
Join Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga for an evening celebrating 50 years of creativity at The Arts Centre.
A night of quickfire talks and live performances from the vibrant community of creatives who have been connected to this artistic hub over the years, including:
- Artist and performer Juanita Hepi (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi, Moriori), will MC the evening.
- Singer-songwriter Holly Arrowsmith will perform
- Contemporary Pacific performing arts collective Pacific Underground will also perform
- Rollicking Entertainment buskers David Ladderman and Lizzie Tollemache will dazzle and amaze!
- Stewart Ross will talk about the early days of The Court Theatre
- Jamie Hanton will recount his time at contemporary arts space The Physics Room
- Dr Jo Burzynska - a former artist-in-residence and multisensory expert will talk about her practice
Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre is built above a spring which has been a source of water and life to the surrounding area and people for centuries. In te ao Māori, matatiki/springs are bearers of knowledge and wellbeing. It is appropriate that this place has become a place of culture, art and learning.
This event celebrates the proposal by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga to recognise Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre as a National Historic Landmark, a programme that recognises and celebrates heritage places that hold exceptional significance to Aotearoa New Zealand. These are sites whose stories have shaped our past – and continue to influence our present and future.
Illustration: Korihi te manu (for Reuben) by Megan Brady, details from The Arts Centre mural.
This event is part of Christchurch Heritage Festival 2025 which runs from October 11 -27.
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