Mission Statement:
We are committed to artist development through our exhibition programme
and
community development via participation in our creative spaces.
We focus on, and specialise in, exhibiting the work of new and emerging artists, working with artists until they have developed their art, their confidence and their experience and are ready to exhibit elsewhere. We do this by facilitating affordable and accessible exhibition opportunities, model a professional gallery experience with a community focus and mentor artists through the entire process.
In the last financial year we exhibited the work of 384 local artists
In 2024 there were 12,100 onsite engagements with our services
We run large art exhibitions in Eastside Gallery and small ones in the Mini Gallery, offer 11 low-cost art classes and arts activities each week, most of which you can jump into anytime, and hire our three creative spaces outside opening hours for community meetings and arts-related activities and events such as singing, dancing and intimate music performances. We are the only Community Arts Centre in Christchurch that operates both as a creative space and specialises in offering quality, accessible exhibition opportunities for local artists. We run around seven open call shows annually. All of this takes place in a beautiful heritage building, one block east of Christchurch’s CBD.
14 exhibitions in 2025:
7 are open call for local artists
5 are hosted collaborations with community groups
2 collaborate with education providers
The Linwood Community Arts Centre (Linwood Arts for short) is an integral project of Te Whare Roimata Trust, a not-for-profit, Treaty-based, community development organisation.
Firmly entwined in the Trust’s kaupapa are the principles of bi-cultural partnership, whānau development, local participation and leadership. These in turn inform the programming aims of Linwood Arts. We have particularly strong connections to the creative community of Christchurch’s Inner City East.
Our Funders and Supporters
Volunteers
Volunteers are a vital part of Linwood Arts.
We have a strong team of daily gallery and class assistants and a pool of volunteers to staff our exhibition openings and special events. More information on our volunteer page.
History
Linwood Arts opened in 1987.
It is located in Linwood Village at 388 Worcester St, which is on the corner of Stanmore Rd and Worcester Street. The building was formerly the Linwood Public Library and Reading Room. It opened in 1909.
