
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora is a precious national taonga with a rich heritage and exciting future as a centre for education, arts, culture and creativity dating back to 1877.
The centre’s restored buildings, some of which won a UNESCO heritage award, are both significant landmarks and platforms for modern activities and experiences, including concerts, exhibitions, theatre, cinema, kapa haka, markets, speakers and much more.
More than 25 organisations - including galleries, museums, education, boutique retailers, eateries, and, in 2019, a two-screen boutique cinema - call the Arts Centre home.
An independent charitable trust for the people of Canterbury and its visitors, the Arts Centre must fundraise every dollar it spends and is actively fundraising to complete the restoration of its 23 earthquake-damaged buildings so they can reopen to the public. More than two thirds have already been restored, strengthened and reopened.