Christchurch pins future growth on arts, culture and public spaces
Thursday, 7 May 2026
From street art to major festivals, Christchurch leaders say the arts are no longer a nice to have - they are central to the city’s economic future and international identity.
The city council adopted a new 10-year strategy on Wednesday, aimed at cementing Ōtautahi as one of New Zealand’s cultural capitals.
The Toi Ōtautahi/Christchurch Arts 2026-2036 Strategy was signed off with no change to current funding and leans heavily on the city's thriving street art scene and cornerstone organisations to drive economic and social wellbeing.
The aim of the strategy is to facilitate “the best environment for people to create, explore and experience the arts”, a council document states.
Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora chief executive Philip Aldridge backed the blueprint, which sets out an overall vision for arts in the city, rather than specific policy.
Dr Reuben Woods, creative director of street art organisation Watch This Space, said the strategy reinforced shared values across the sector, including increasing the visibility of toi Māori and Pasifika artists.
“We have been able to be positioned now as one of the leading cities in the country for the role the arts play,” Woods said, noting the city's cultural powerhouse status was “always hard won and takes constant work to continue”.
The crossover between major events — such as the recent rugby Super Round — and the city’s creative landscape demonstrated our cultural strength, Woods said.
“They may have been firstly rugby fans or people interested in the stadium, but just being in the city they also were coming into contact with some pretty amazing artwork.”
Funding for Watch This Space’s street art programming comes from the Capital Endowment Fund rather than rates, but Woods said the 10-year strategy helps the organisation to better integrate with potential collaborators across the city.
The local creative sector remains a vital economic driver. In 2022, the arts workforce in Christchurch totalled nearly 5700 people and generated at least $718 million in GDP output.
The executive director of SCAPE Public Art, Rachel Jefferies, praised the council’s recognition of public art’s role in shaping a vibrant city.
Her Christchurch-based organisation is an independent producer of public art and is responsible for an annual art season, together with permanent installations such as 2019’s 16m-tall Corten steel VAKA ‘A HINA, by Sēmisi Fetokai Potauaine, in Rauora Park.
“We love the emphasis on collaboration between council and arts organisations like SCAPE; and we in turn have dozens of partnerships with businesses, who generously contribute materials, expertise, and support to make public art happen,” Jefferies said.
The arts community’s positive response to the strategy was shared by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s chief executive officer, Dr Graham Sattler.
“We are thrilled to have a clear statement going forward from council that aligns so well with our commitment to creativity and inclusion, to local makers and performers, and the distinct creative personality that defines Ōtautahi Christchurch as the place to live, celebrate and grow,” he said.