Arts Centre feels Covid-19 crunch
The Arts Centre of Christchurch is asking the public to help it survive after the Covid-19 pandemic slashed its revenue to almost nothing.
The heritage central city complex has been the scene of a massive $255 million restoration project after suffering severe damage in the earthquakes.
Opened in 1877 as home to the University of Canterbury, the collection of category one heritage buildings is being rescued in what has become one of the success stories of the rebuild. The project is understood to be the largest of its type in the world.
Work on the 23 buildings is more than two-thirds complete, but meeting operating costs and completing restoration through the downturn would be the centre’s ‘‘toughest challenge yet’’, said Arts Centre chief executive Philip Aldridge.
It has set up a Givealittle page to try to cover its operating costs.
Aldridge said income had ‘‘basically gone to zero’’ as it relied on tenants and events for its funding, and neither could operate under the current Covid-19 restrictions.
He said the centre was in ‘‘a pretty difficult situation to begin with’’ after Christchurch City Council cut its funding as it first opened three years ago. Tenants were not being charged rent while they could not operate due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
The centre’s staff had taken a pay cut and were receiving the Government wage subsidy.
To date, 34 employees have been paid $227,688 from the Government’s wage subsidy scheme.
The centre normally turns over about $6m annually. It is a major tourist draw as well as attracting local visitors.
Aldridge said the centre had been talking with the Christchurch City Council about funding longterm but no decision had been made. He said without some exterior funding, the centre would not work.
There was nothing like it in the country, with funding for museums legislated and art galleries run by local bodies, Aldridge said. He said central Government had ‘‘left town’’ so the centre was dependent on its own resource.
The centre had put in a bid for Government funding from the Provincial Growth Fund towards restoration works. The Government is using money in the fund diverted from infrastructure projects to stimulate the postcoronavirus economy, but has not yet decided how the cash would be divvied up.
The Arts Centre is run by a trust, which owns it on behalf of the people of Christchurch. The Crown has previously said it would not be further funding projects like the Arts Centre with earthquake recovery money, though it could pitch for national funding pools offered by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Aldridge hoped the public would recognise the value of the centre and support it to help keep the Arts Centre afloat.
The organisation’s Givealittle listing said it had been ‘‘living hand to mouth’’ before the Covid19 pandemic.
The centre suffered ‘‘a major loss of revenue, including from ticketed events, venue hire, Rutherford’s Den and shop income, tenant’s rent, and face-toface fundraising events’’, the listing said.
It is home to galleries, stores, eateries, food outlets and a cinema. It hosts events. Restored and reoccupied buildings include the old Boys’ High, clock tower, Rutherford’s Den, Great Hall, old library, old gym, classics and chemistry buildings. As of yesterday, 42 donors had put forward
$2510 through Givealittle.