Christchurch arts organisations left homeless after the February earthquake are being provided with office space through a partnership between Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) and Creative New Zealand.
Christchurch Arts Festival Trust, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Body Festival, SCAPE, Physics Room, the Buskers Festival, Christchurch Writers Festival, Arts on Tour New Zealand, CHART – Christchurch Music Industry Trust, Christchurch City Choir and Creative New Zealand will be relocating to CPIT over the next two to three weeks.
CPIT has offered to make the space available for three months at no charge, after which Creative New Zealand will manage the on-going leasing arrangement. Both organisations will also provide the necessary office equipment needed for the arts organisations to work in this space.
Creative New Zealand meeting and function
Creative New Zealand’s Arts Council will be meeting in Christchurch on Tuesday 19 April, and hosting a networking function for members of the arts and culture community to share information about the arts in Christchurch and the resources available to begin rebuilding.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage sets up Facebook page
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has set up a Christchurch Cultural Hub on Facebook for the creative, sporting and heritage communities in Christchurch. The aim is to share information, resources and skills.
Venues
The Christchurch Town Hall for Performing Arts and Christchurch Convention Centre – Vbase has announced that both venues will be closed until at least early 2012. Detailed assessments are continuing and will not be completed until May. Access to both venues is limited and assessment of the Christchurch Town Hall has been further impeded by flooding to the basement where all of the buildings electrical and mechanical plant is located. Updates on the status of venues can be found on the Vbase website.
Isaac Theatre Royal - The Board and Management of Christchurch’s historic Isaac Theatre Royal have confirmed that the theatre will be restored as a venue in Christchurch’s rebuilt City Centre. However, management also confirmed that the Theatre will be closed for all events until 31st October 2011, at this stage, while remedial work is planned and undertaken.
This date will be re-assessed in August based on progress of those works at that time. The most recent structural report confirmed; “The building, although moderately damaged, has performed extremely well in an event much greater than any strengthening was designed for”. Detailed assessments by engineers and other consultants are continuing but final reports are taking longer than expected while the strict CBD cordon restrictions remain in place.
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