Save the Arts Centre – Campaign to help prevent insolvency

Drop Nation performing at the Arts Centre. Source: Arts Centre. 

Left out of the City Council's Draft Long Term Plan, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre could face insolvency, says its creative director. 

The Draft Long Term Plan, a document detailing Council spending for the upcoming decade, was released for public feedback last month, with submissions closing on April 21. 

While the Plan featured a 12.4% average residential rates increase for next year, $226 million on improving existing roads, cycleways, and footpaths in the first three years, and a $480 million investment of capital spend into renewing and upgrading drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, and flood protection, the Arts Centre was given no allocation. 

According to the City Council, during consultation for its 2021-31 plan, residents were asked how they would feel about a “one-off targeted rates increase to help fund the heritage restoration capital programme,” at the Arts Centre. 

The Council said the increase was generally supported, and that it had provided $5.5 million to the Arts Centre over the past three years, as well as ongoing operational financial support. 

"In November 2023 the Council was briefed on the proposal from the Arts Centre for operational funding in a closed workshop. The Council asked staff to engage with the Arts Centre to identify options and provide advice to inform decision making in the 2024/34 LTP,” said the Council in a media response.  

Canta was also told that another workshop on December 13 saw no subsequent councillor amendments, and that the Mayor says advice is being prepared for the Council based on current analysis by the Arts Centre Board.  

But Arts Centre Creative Director Chris Archer says the Centre “can’t survive without a form of public funding. 

"We know that the number of submissions in support of the Arts Centre all count. It's kind of democracy in action," Archer said. 

The Arts Centre said it had received, on average, $1.83 million per annum over the last three years from the Council.  

Archer said that since approaching the Council for funding three years ago, the Centre had completed the restoration of its building – both independently and with the help of public grants, philanthropy and donations – and has recently hosted events like a weekend festival of the arts which saw 5,000 people attend. 

Arts Centre Creative Director Chris Archer. Source: Arts Centre. 

Archer said it had also opened three new arts venues over the last couple of years.   

"We're trying to be something for everybody and proudly so. This is a place for the people of Christchurch,” he said.   

"We've kind of been advocating with [the Council] for the last 18 months to make sure we are included in this current Draft Long Term Plan," he said.  

"The result of it is that we're not, and that's a big issue for us because the implications are that we are heading towards insolvency.” 

Archer said that the Centre is ideally seeking the same grant they were previously given by the Council. 

"After the University moved to Ilam, Norman Kirk, who was the Prime Minister at the time, kind of set [the Arts Centre] up as a gift for the people of Christchurch, and a place that would really support arts, heritage, creativity and education, and that's what we've been doing ever since that time," he said. 

"Councillors have the opportunity to actually change things in the Plan according to what the public have said."