Christchurch aims to be world capital of urban play

A three-year programme being led by Gap Filler and in partnership with Christchurch City Council and ChristchurchNZ is under way to establish Christchurch as a world capital of urban play.

Gap Filler is an award-winning placemaking and urban regeneration social enterprise in Christchurch contributing to conversations about cities. The Gap Filler initiative generates a wide range of temporary projects, events, installations and amenities in the city. Gap Filler’s short-term, small-scale projects allow for experimentation and the testing of new ideas and are all about getting everyday people participating in and shaping their city in a range of ways.

Gap Filler’s three-year Place of Play programme is being conducted from their new Place of Play HQ in High Street and is aimed at making the city more memorable, equitable, sociable, diverse and fun.

Kate Kinnerty, co-ordinator of Place of Play says play has a magic ability to engage the senses, connect communities, prompt conversations and to create new ways of doing things.

Kinnerty notes “It’s just as important for adults to play as well as children. Play allows us to imagine and find solutions for a future that is different to today.’’

Gap Filler’s Pae Tākaro Place of Play HQ in High Street will be a public shopfront for play in the city, with changing installations and exhibitions every six to eight weeks.

Upcoming Place of Play projects feature projection works, yarn bombs and a playful approach to a Council installation.

“It’s a really exciting programme, there are so many aspects to it.

“We will work with our partners to dream up projects, events and responses to what it means to play, for the benefit of this city as a whole and, of course, for its people.’’

Image credit: Christchurch City Council