About the Festival

Enjoy Five Festival Weekends!

The Festival this year is spread over five weekends and three main venues. Larger-scale shows are held at the Aurora Centre, Memorial Avenue. Theatre and some music will feature at the Rudolf Steiner School, Opawa. The main music programme and Ideas Festival will be held at the Fletcher Building Festival Club, Market Square, The Arts Centre (facing on to Worcester Boulevard). We've kept our prices low,  some events are free, some for adults and some for family. Come and celebrate the best of Christchurch, the best of  New Zealand and the best international shows we could bring.

Download the 2013 Arts Festival Programme
Download the Arts Festival Calendar

A message from Clare Murray and Lauren Semple (Co-Chairs)
and Philip Tremewan (Festival Director)

We are delighted to bring you this year's festival, spanning five exciting weekends filled with shows and activities to pull you out of winter and reinvigorate the senses for spring! Kick up your heels, move to music, be astonished by circus and cabaret performers, and enjoy quality theatre. It's all on show for you in a burst of energy and vitality to amuse, enliven and invigorate.  Make the festival part of your year and bring Christchurch alive! We have kept our prices as low as possible so you can come to a different show every weekend with your friends and family. Enjoy!