Well, we pretty much missed Summer in the south, and now it's Autumn already – and that means despite feeling shortchanged by the weather, there are a lot of things coming up in the calendar to feel excited about.
Arts news in the garden city
Goodbye Gap Filler
Last week, the long-planned decision to wind up Gap Filler was finalised. Gap Filler had 15 years of getting citizens actively involved in reimagining Christchurch and bringing life to the city's spaces after the earthquakes. From the super popular Dance-O-Mat to the Cycle Powered Cinema, Gap Filler has been a huge presence in the city and a testament to the resilience, creativity and collaborative spirit of the people of Christchurch. We'd like to thank everyone involved in Gap Filler for making such a difference to the city when it was needed most.
RAWA kicks off
Christchurch readers and writers are a bit spoiled for choice when it comes to literary festivals. We have the amazing WORD Christchurch – which programmes events throughout the year as well as its major festival – and we also have the Readers and Writers festival in Akaroa. Ōtautahi has an esteemed history in literature (including the two Booker prize winners having connections to the city, skite, skite!) so, I guess it's not surprising. RAWA happens every two years and it's becoming a popular event as it celebrates books, writing and literary community by bringing together readers, writers, and storytellers for talks, workshops, and discussions all in the very picturesque harbour town of Akaroa. What more could you ask for? (maybe some nicer weather...)
In Memoriam
March has started on a sad note for Ōtautahi. Jim Wilson of Phantom Billstickers passed away, peacefully in his sleep, on 2 March. Jim was a beloved figure around the city, being a champion for art. With his poster advertising, he helped thousands of people get their art into the world. Jim believed the streets should speak, and so he made them sing with posters, with poems, with music, and with soul. He will be sadly missed. You can read more about Jim’s colourful life on AudioCulture.
The Rātā Foundation's Hēmi Te Hēmi (Ngāti Manaipoto/Ngāti Kōroki,Rarotonga/Mangaiia, Pākehā ), who worked as their Māori Engagement Advisor and provided support to both Māori artists and to Council, has also passed away. Kua hinga he totara te wao nui a Tāne. A totara tree has fallen in the great forest of Tane. We send our deepest aroha to Hēmi's whānau.
Council considering louder night-time noise
Inner city venues are pleased that work will continue on changing the district’s planning rulebook to better manage noise in the central city, particularly when it comes to live music, entertainment activities, and areas where housing and business mix. The key change the Council is looking at is allowing louder night-time noise in some areas, “The city was a lot different to how it is today when the District Plan was created after the earthquakes 15 years ago,” says the Council's Head of Planning and Consents Mark Stevenson. “We need to make sure that noise-related rules are fit-for-purpose when it comes to supporting a vibrant night-time economy, keeping up the appeal of different areas within the central city, and protecting activities that are sensitive to noise”. The formal part of this process is expected in early autumn.
Festivals on festivals
TINY Fest, which emerged in 2019 to be a new kind of festival – a platform and a community hub for the next wave of performance makers and audiences in Ōtautahi, is growing in popularity. This month, Tiny joins forces with Performing Art Week Aotearoa to bring artists on an interchange between Ōtautahi and Tāmaki Makaurau in a series of performative experiments called Electric Bodies. The artists have been invited to experiment with the intersections between sound and body as a driving force. The performance asks: When sound is not the outcome, but the instigator of an action, in what ways can sound provoke new patterns of embodiment, attention, or resistance?
Orchestrating Ōtautahi
Over the summer, (what summer??!) Ōtautahi music legend, Henare ‘H’ Kaa (Dillastrate drum/vocals) has been mentoring ten promising musicians, putting them through their paces in workshops and rehearsals, with one shared mission: to co-create original music. Think waiata reo Māori meets Beethoven meets modern-day soundscape woven together into bold, moving anthems for the next generation. Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre is hosting a very special concert to witness what has been created and wrap a community of support around these Rangatahi.
Opportunities for artists
The Toi Ōtautahi incubator programme is still open for applications – this is a fantastic opportunity for the city's creatives to be mentored by industry people to help get a project underway, over the line, or into production. The 2026 Incubator Programme focuses on supporting Ōtautahi artists, musicians, performers, filmmakers and writers to develop projects, large and small through providing mentoring with respected industry professionals.
Canterbury Repertory Theatre is calling for auditions for its production of Animal Farm. Adapted for the stage by Tatty Hennessy from the novel by George Orwell – the auditions are being held the weekend 8-9 March.
And Watch This Space has an amazing opportunity for street artists – Jacob Yikes is looking for a mural assistant to help in the creation of his latest work. Applications close on 12 March.
Arts jobs in the area
Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre is looking for a Creative Producer for its extensive annual programme of programmes and events. It’s a full-time role, and applications close Sunday 15 March 2026.
The Physics Room is seeking a part-time Kaimanaaki Access Coordinator to support accessible, welcoming engagement with their exhibitions, programmes, and communities. It’s an entry-level role, with applications closing on Friday 6 March.
What's on
CHOMP at CoCA
On show at CoCA gallery is CHOMP: The Paste-Ups of Earwig Magazine, which features original paste-up work from a 1970s underground magazine created by John Milne. The show is curated by Claudia Long who revisits this past practice through the lens of a designer in the current age of computer automation and AI. The exhibition aims to highlight the slow manual craft of analogue design and how it could be used to subvert the digital mainstream of mass generation, something Claudia dug into in the latest installment of The National Grid.
The White Room presents Sophi Sol
The White Room Creative Space is a charity and creative studio space that removes barriers to making art for people with learning disabilities and other under-served community members, and this month, Sophi Sol will present a striking collection of portraits that highlight her distinct drawing style. Working predominately with bold pen lines Sophi captures the essence and personality of her subjects: pop stars, sportspeople, broadcasters, family, and friends. Her confident mark-making and layered texture bring a characteristic warmth to every face.
Poetry in motion
March is a good month for poets, with both the Canterbury Poets Collective and Darkroom offering the opportunity to hear, read and present work. The Darkroom has Scattered Sounds: a cosy evening that features poets and musicians performing in nooks and crannies throughout Darkroom and in its neighbouring art gallery space. The Canterbury Poets Collective hosts Poetry in Performance every Thursday in March. This is an open mic session, and it gives both seasoned performers and first-time readers the chance to share their voices and words in a welcoming space.
Schmuck in Rangiora
Schmuck is German for jewellery and one of the biggest international fixtures for contemporary jewellery is held in Munich each year. To coincide with that, Chamber Gallery in Rangiora is holding an exhibition of New Zealand contemporary jewellery. The exhibition includes mahi from Becky Bliss, Louise Hill, Anna Claire, Julie Hassall, Louise Johns, Angus Goodwin and Pippa Mills. The show has been curated to provide a diverse blend of provocative materials and stunning designs and there are also workshops and floor talks happening for the duration of the show.
Toi Ōtautahi Dispatch is a monthly column and partnership with Toi Ōtautahi, the garden city’s virtual arts office. Each month we will bring you a round up of what’s happening in the arts across Christchurch. Consider it your guide to what’s on and what’s hot, according to Zara Potts.
