Christchurch Art Gallery reopens after multi-million dollar repair project

The Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, closed since the earthquakes of 2011, has today (19th December) reopened to the public following a $57 million repair project.

The reopening is being celebrated with a weekend of exhibitions and artist projects, musical performances, films, family activities, talks and tours.

The reopening sees works hidden for nearly five years back on display among a selection of the 500 new pieces the Gallery has acquired since it closed.

Visitors can now view old favourites, as well as the new acquisitions throughout the Gallery - upstairs, downstairs, in the foyer and on the roof.

In addition to essential repairs undertaken in the wake of Christchurch’s earthquakes, the gallery has received structural upgrades to better protect it in the event of a future earthquake. The upgrades, budgeted by Christchurch City Council, include repair work and strengthening of the Buchan Group-designed art gallery, which has been re-levelled and retrofitted with base isolation.

While most of the gallery space is now open, the facility’s underground car park remains closed, as does the gallery shop and café, all of which were heavily damaged in the 6.3 magnitude Christchurch earthquake.

The still-closed public facilities are scheduled to reopen on Waitangi Day on 6th February, while back-of-house spaces and the car park will be ready in April.

Christchurch Art Gallery Director Jenny Harper is looking forward to welcoming visitors back into the Gallery “we can't wait to open our doors to the people of Christchurch on Saturday. Gallery staff and their families will be there to greet our visitors on their way in for the first time in almost five years.

"Our team has put together an exciting selection of exhibitions, and we want to show our visitors what an exceptional art collection this city has."

Highlights on show at opening include Bill Culbert's spectacular Bebop 'chandelier' of chairs and fluorescent lights from the Venice Biennale and Christchurch's favourite bronze bull Chapman's Homer by Michael Parekowhai.

The gallery’s first major exhibition, titled Unseen, will introduce visitors to the gallery’s new works added to the collection since 2011. Two major new works by New Zealand artist Simon Morris and Australian artist Tanya Schulz, have been commissioned especially for the reopening and will be featured prominently within the gallery. 

For more information go to www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz/

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