Christchurch arts centre activities and attractions range from a boutique art deco cinema to Rutherford’s den exhibition to the fascinating Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities. The bonus is the weekend market for emerging and established artists.
Bursting with creative energy, artisan food stores with deletable ice creams, savoury treats to fascinating collections from science to the arts the Christchurch Arts Centre is a natural hub for visitors to gravitate to.
Artists who express themselves through wooden sculpture, clothing designers using natural New Zealand sourced materials or crafty souls using recycled or repurposed materials to tell a story inhabit the Christchurch Arts Centre. Their spaces have their own opening hours while the Arts Centre’s public spaces are open between 10.30 am to 5.00 pm every day.
The Auckland Visitor Centre is a great resource for visitors greeting you as you enter the Arts Centre. The Heritage Tram has a stop outside the doors making a visit easy as. If you have grabbed a coffee or snack head over the Christchurch Botanic Gardens across the street and enjoy the roses.
Lumiere Cinema
An Art Deco gem is nestled within the Christchurch Arts Centre. The two-screen art-house cinema. Lumière presents engaging, contemplative and sometimes confrontational films covering all genres – from cult and foreign language to gripping documentaries, reissues and film festivals. Seven days, 10.00am to 10.00pm.
Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities – Christchurch Arts Centre
Explore the intriguing Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, where you can see more than 3,000 years of human history through an amazing collection of artefacts from Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern cultures. The Teece Museum is part of the University of Canterbury’s Arts. Wednesday to Sunday, 11.00am to 3.00pm
Rutherford’s Den – Christchurch Arts Centre
Follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest scientists of all time, New Zealander Ernest, Lord Rutherford. The multi sensory exhibition engages you as its focus is to inspire an interest in the sciences. Rutherford’s Den is more than a museum, it is a virtual experience vividly told through thought provoking multimedia displays and hands-on experiences set in a stunning heritage building.
Housed in the Clock Tower, the den is home to the actual rooms where Rutherford, the father of nuclear physics, studied while a student at Canterbury College (now the University of Canterbury), including a restored Victorian lecture theatre.
Free entry to Rutherford’s Den. The Rutherford’s Den exhibition is now free to the public, and open daily between 10.30am-2.30pm. Donations are greatly appreciated. Group tours are available on request.
The Arts Centre Market
Every Sunday Market Square The regular weekly Arts Centre Market is back. Every Sunday 10am to 3pm (winter hours), rain or shine.
OPENING HOURS
The organisations based at The Arts Centre have their own opening hours. There are also public spaces for people to enjoy between the hours of 10.00am to 5.00pm.
For more holiday inspiration check out Things to do in Christchurch places to visit, attractions, activities & heritage.
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