Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu opened on 10 May, 2003 in the heart of the citys cultural precinct, bounded by Worcester Boulevard, Gloucester and Montreal Streets. The new 47.5 million facility features two floors of exhibition space, two educational activity areas, an auditorium, a café and wine bar, two retail outlets, a Sculpture Garden and underground parking. The name ‘Te Puna’ honours waipuna, the well spring the actual artesian spring on the site and ‘Waiwhetu’ refers to one of the tributaries in the immediate vicinity, which flows into the Avon River. ‘Waiwhetu’ may also be translated as ‘water in which stars are reflected’. The largest art institution in the South Island, the Gallery replaces the Robert McDougall Art Gallery est. 1932 as the home of one of New Zealand’s most important public art collections. Through purchases, bequests and donations, the Gallery’s Collection now totals over 5,500 items, including paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, glass, metalwork and photography. Founded with the Jamieson and Canterbury Society of Arts Collections of British and European paintings, the Gallery’s collection and acquisition policy is now focused on the art of Canterbury, placed within a New Zealand and international context. Find out more about the Collection. In 1998 the international design competition for this important civic building was won by The Buchan Group, one of the largest architectural practices in Australasia.

Address: Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu Cnr Worcester Boulevard and Montreal Street PO Box 2626 Christchurch 8140 New Zealand
Telephone: (64 3) 941 7300
Fax: (64 3) 941 7301
Website: http://www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz/