Christchurch Arts Centre boss hasn’t given up funding bid, after being snubbed in city council’s $34m surplus splurge

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

The Arts Centre wants $10m of ratepayer money to fix the former Student Union/Dux de Lux building, but has been left out of a new proposal to fund other Christchurch heritage buildings.

Christchurch’s Arts Centre boss is planning “constructive discussions” with the city council after the centre’s $10 million funding bid was left out of a $34m surplus splurge.

The Christchurch City Council is considering dishing out $15m to Christ Church Cathedral, $15m to Canterbury Museum, along with a $28.6m loan, and $4m to Christchurch School of Music.

But, there is no money for the Arts Centre, which has asked the council for $10m to refurbish the former Student Union building, once home to the Dux de Lux.

Councillors Sam MacDonald and Jake McLellan presented their funding proposal to the council at a briefing on Tuesday. They are proposing to use the council’s $44m surplus to fund the plan, which also included repaying $10m of debt.

Instead of giving money to the Arts Centre, the pair suggest council staff work with the Arts Centre to call for expressions of interest from people wanting to develop the site.

Arts Centre director Philip Aldridge said he looked forward to “constructive discussions”.

“We are confident they will make a well-informed facts-based decision that will see a new brew bar, restaurant and live venue open again to the public.”

Councillors will make a decision on May 26.

In data released by the council on Tuesday, 700 people provided feedback on the Arts Centre during recent consultation on the city’s damaged heritage buildings. Of those, 22% supported council funding the Arts Centre, 4% opposed it and 73% did not state a preference.

Aldridge said he was heartened by the strong support the community had shown the Arts Centre.

It was revealed in March that Christchurch brewer and bar operator Cassels had signed a deal to open in the former Student Union building, but the move was contingent on ratepayer backing. The deal was expected to earn the Arts Centre $500,000 a year in rent.

Arts Centre director Philip Aldridge (left) and architect Jim Lunday inside the former Dux de Lux building.

Cassels co-director Zak Cassels said on Tuesday that not much had changed. The company had been involved in a competitive process to be chosen as the tenant, he said.

“We don’t mind how the repairs of the student union building are funded. We are excited to be involved in this project as a tenant.”

Richard Sinke, who operated the Dux de Lux for more than 30 years before the earthquakes shut it down, said he was not surprised the council had turned the Arts Centre’s bid down.

Richard Sinke, pictured here in 2022, says he believes the council’s proposal not to give the Arts Centre money to develop the former Dux de Lux building is justified.

“It’s justified. Why would they want to give ratepayers’ money for the Arts Centre to fund a commercial tenant into their building?”

Sinke formed a company in 2021 with property developer Shaun Stockman, Tim Weston and James Stewart, to launch a bid to refurbish the building and get it open again.

The offer was turned down by the Arts Centre.

Aldridge has since said the deal did not stack up financially.

Sinke said he was not sure if the company would make another bid, and he would have to talk to his fellow directors.

“Our lives have moved on a bit since then.”

Stockman told the council during an annual plan hearing last month that they offered the Arts Centre a really good commercial option and already had half the money needed when the offer was turned down.

On Tuesday, Stockman said he believed it was the right decision not to put ratepayers’ money into the former Dux.

He said he would not be putting in a new bid to restore it but believed someone would.

“That ship has sailed.”