Welcome to Arts Canterbury
Providing a sense of community & support for local artists
Our mission - To foster appreciation of the visual arts in Canterbury and to provide support to artists who create art.
Arts Canterbury is committed to supporting the artists, art galleries and other art related businesses throughout Canterbury, New Zealand. As an incorporated charitable organisation, Arts Canterbury is governed by an elected executive committee, whose aim is to continue to provide a range of opportunities for all members.
The declared purpose of Arts Canterbury is to:
• Provide public opportunities for people in Canterbury to develop and appreciate a wide range of art media.
• Support artists in Canterbury to display and exhibit their art.
• Support the artistic communities, galleries and cultural environments in which art and artists can thrive and develop.
• Provide learning opportunities for artists and the public.
• Promote and support visual art and artists across Canterbury.
Arts Canterbury members often talk about the sense of community and support that they have gained by becoming a member. The opportunities they receive as a member of Arts Canterbury include a variety of exhibitions throughout each calendar year, educational seminars and workshops, a members only facebook group and regular social meetups for members to interact with each other. The opportunity to have their art shared on the Arts Canterbury website and across the different social media platforms is also beneficial, especially for those who may be just starting out on their art journey.
September 5, 2026
to September 26, 2026
Opening Event: 2-5pm Saturday 5th September, 468 Colombo St Our figurative ceramics specialists, Fiona Tunnicliffe and Nachiko Schollum, return for […]
September 10, 2026
to October 4, 2026
Tether 10th September – 4th October Tether brings together the work of the Echo and Edge Collective, printmakers Carmen Collie […]
October 4 10:00am
to 4:00 pm
Join Arts Canterbury. Get creative. Have a go! Arts Canterbury invites you to Art Play Day, a FREE (but koha […]
We’re delighted to introduce Donna Howes as our Featured Artist for October.
Ōtautahi Christchurch artist Donna Howes paints Aotearoa’s native manu in oil on canvas, weaving intricate patterns of bird and habitat into her distinctive style.
Inspired by the inseparable connection between our native wildlife and the whenua that sustains them, Donna is working her way through New Zealand’s Bird of the Year list - one manu at a time -while supporting conservation through a portion of every original artwork sold.
A full-time artist and member of the Arts Canterbury Exhibitions team, Donna brings her passion for art, manu and conservation together in a practice that celebrates the unique wildlife of Aotearoa.