The Black Box: The Kind Foundation
Christchurch’s most recent addition to the spaces and places that make our city feel people-centred and connected is located inside Papa Hou, 4 Rolleston Avenue.
Papa Hou, meaning Treasure Box, is a building like no other in Aotearoa – housing a diverse range of specialised spaces for an equally diverse number of users. One of these spaces is the Black Box.
It was named so because it is a ‘blank canvas’ performance and function venue, customisable to your creative or corporate event ideas. Organise anything in this space, from traditional raked seating before a flat stage to an empty room with a single spotlight for that one romantic dinner.
Anything is possible because of its clever design. This space is appointed with all the technical requirements of a professional theatre. It comes with enormous flexibility in how the equipment, such as lights, sound, seating, and dressing rooms, can be arranged and utilised. 
The Kind Foundation operates a 3+ star hotel next door, Hotel Give, and Papa Hou provides a full bar and catering service as required. Other meeting spaces and a café is also part of the offering making any event in the Black Box an ideal choice, reducing headaches for the organising team and creating a seamless experience for performers and attendees.
The amateur arts sector was badly disrupted by the earthquakes, and the loss of affordable professional venues that occurred as a result. “Our vision for the Black Box is to strengthen the performance sector of our community and in particular to support amateur performance groups,” CEO Josie Ogden Schroeder says. As Papa Hou is owned and operated by The Kind Foundation, a charitable trust that exists to strengthen the community, this is an asset that aims to give back. Hiring the space will enable The Kind Foundation to do more ‘good in the hood’.
Different rates are available, to suit affordability. “We unashamedly charge more to corporate/business customers, although still at amazing value, and use this income to encourage, support and subsidise amateur artists. This in turn grows the arts in Christchurch which has a positive impact for everyone,” Josie says.
Seating 240 people theatre-style, or up to 500 standing – and everything else in-between, the Black Box is the hidden treasure of Papa Hou. Hirers can also utilise a fully licensed lobby area for pre-performance or pre-event drinks, or use it as a break-out room when in conference mode. Best of all, it will not cost the earth to deliver a show or event that is remembered. For more information, visit the website.
The Kind Foundation is the over-arching charitable entity that continues to support many different sites and businesses for over 161 years. Their vision is to connect people, doing things that make them happy and well, giving back all earnings to community areas in need.
