Creative Canterbury
Print this storyCanterbury is the place to be if you’re seeking creative spirit and stimulation – and the spotlight is on our young artists. “Ōtautahi has so many empty windows and so many incredible artists. Projects like this show that we don’t need big budgets or permanent venues to support our artists and activate our city.” […]
Steve’s scene
Print this storyInternationally renowned music publicist and consultant, not to mention Dolly Parton’s publicist across New Zealand and Australia, Steve Guest shares the latest in our creative industry. Canterbury, it’s getting chilly outside. Just ask the recent Crusaders crowd huddled within Apollo Projects Stadium watching them bring the championship home. We’ve been entertained by an […]
An evening with the Cowboy Junkies: Isaac Theatre Royal
Print this storyCanadian alt-country pioneers Cowboy Junkies return to Christchurch this November to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen caught up with songwriter Michael Timmins. In 1988, when Canadian alt-country legends Cowboy Junkies released their slow, haunting version of Velvet Underground’s Sweet Jane, little did they know they’d still be playing it […]
The curation of a legendary career
Print this storyThe work of esteemed contemporary Māori sculptor, the late Fred Graham, is being showcased in Toi Whakaata / Reflections, an exhibition coming to Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū in late May. A touring exhibition provides a rare opportunity for Ōtautahi to see wood, stone and steel sculpture works made by a […]
Recognising resilience
Print this storyIt’s only mid-April, and 2025 is already shaping up to be a huge year for Christchurch’s arts industry – a welcome reminder of our strength and creativity. By Nina Tucker. Let’s reflect. Flare Ōtautahi Street Art Festival animated the streets as bare buildings became beautiful murals. Painting the city, artists and historians shared […]
Colour, form, & bold abstraction: PG gallery192
Print this storyTwo new exhibitions from visionary artists Thomas Hancock and Janna van Hasselt explore form and colour – exclusive to view at this leading Christchurch gallery from 18 March to 12 April. Ōtautahi-based, Janna’s exhibition Flop on Pop at PG gallery192 presents porcelain structures that ooze with tactile exuberance. Woven and flowing ceramic paintings […]
Squash takes centre stage: Isaac Theatre Royal
Print this storyThe New Zealand Squash Open saw an iconic heritage venue transform into an electrifying sporting arena in early March. A world first at the Isaac Theatre Royal, history was made as the professional squash tournament was played inside the famed theatre, captivating audiences and making headlines nationwide. The event was nothing short of […]
Leave a legacy: Isaac Theatre Royal
Print this storyThink of the names of your favourite stars – comedians, actors, musicians. Reminisce how you felt watching them live, and how that feeling should live on forever. With your help, it can. Thanks to the Isaac Theatre Royal – which homes the stage many of our favourites entertain on – a bequest initiative […]
Paint your resolutions: Art Metro
Print this storyFor many, new year’s resolutions aspire towards new hobbies and trying new things. We have all heard the phrase: ‘New year, new me’. Between goals in work or sport, some strive to instead rediscover a long-lost creative vein. “It is great to be creative, to develop our skills,” says Art Metro’s Simon Walmisley. […]
Dive into the spotlight: Isaac Theatre Royal
Print this storyThink exclusive access, thrilling perks, extraordinary entertainment, and the ultimate theatre giveaway for 2025. The iconic Isaac Theatre Royal has all that and more in store for the year ahead. Rolling out the red carpet for theatre lovers across Canterbury, the launch of their new Backstage Club Membership and Patron Programmes are designed […]