CoCA - Centre of Contemporary Art

15/09/2026

⚡ New artwork at CoCA's annex wall as part of our One Wall programme ⚡

Evelyn Fink’s artistic practice is material-led which she describes as expanded collage. From the well-springs of her immediate environment she gleans and revitalises the discarded, creating compositions that encourage the imaginative potential in the objects that surround us.

This body of work looks upward. It is equally the result of experimentation and contemplation. The overhead expanse in which forms float, constantly, ever changing above us is also an invitation inwards to where this soft, dark place is mirrored.

'Night Flowers'
Armchair stuffing, water colour paint, and other found materials
Dimensions variable
2026

Fink's 'Night Flowers' is showing at CoCA's annex wall 11 September to 9 October. This exhibition is supported by Christchurch City Council's Creative Communities Scheme.

14/09/2026

Last Friday we held a private opening for 'Counterbalance' - the inaugural fundraising exhibition to support exhibiting artists and our exhibition programme.

'Counterbalance' exhibition is a little different from our normal programming.

As a dedicated fundraising exhibition, half the funds from work sold will go to exhibiting artists. The balance will be directed into CoCA’s exhibition programming, including our next mural project and our exciting One Wall programme for emerging artists.

We would like to thank our 30 exhibiting artists for generously supporting our mahi in this way. They are: Anna Bruce, Areta Wilkinson, Billy Apple, Casey Carsel, Darryn George, Denys Watkins, Emma Fitts, Emma Wallbanks, Fiona Pardington, Gordon Walters, Helen Calder, Jamie Price, Jamie Te Heuheu, Jan van der Ploeg, Jess Nicholson, Kim Lowe, Lucia Sidonio, Malcolm Terry, Nicholas Burry, Nicola Farquhar, Nina Oberg Humphries, Oliver Perkins, Raewyn Martyn, Roy Good, Richard Elderton, Rupert Travis, Sione Monū, Steven Junil Park (6×4), Stone Maka, and Wayne Youle.

We are also grateful to everyone who's supported this exhibition already, either purchasing an artwork, signing up to our Patrons Programme, making a donation or spreading the word!

'Counterbalance' is on until 20 September 🌿

We also couldn’t deliver any of our programming without our team of volunteers who include our board of trustees, programming group, and gallery and event assistants.

And a special thank you to our hospitality partners: Three Boys Brewery, Almighty Drinks, Vita Wines and Lele w**es. And Luke Dawkins for his mixology skills.

The exhibition catalogue is available on CoCA’s website.

Beautiful event documentation by the super talented Bri Lawrence ✨

09/09/2026

We are celebrating artists with a connection to CoCA and Waitaha Canterbury while raising funds for more artmaking through our inaugural fundraising exhibition.

Our vision is to create a thriving home for art and culture in Waitaha. We support a diverse range of art practices and empower artists to create and share work with our Waitaha community.

Half the funds from work sold will go to exhibiting artists, while the balance is directed into CoCA’s exhibition programming, including our mural project and One Wall programme for emerging artists.

Works on sale comprise contemporary painting, sculpture, jewellery and limited edition prints offered by established and emerging artists, both Aotearoa focussed and internationally renowned.

The Artists:
Anna Bruce, Areta Wilkinson, Billy Apple, Casey Carsel, Darryn George, Denys Watkins, Emma Fitts, Emma Wallbanks, Fiona Pardington, Gordon Walters, Helen Calder, Jamie Price, Jamie Te Heuheu, Jan van der Ploeg, Jess Nicholson, Kim Lowe, Lucia Sidonio, Malcolm Terry, Nicholas Burry, Nicola Farquhar, Nina Oberg Humphries, Oliver Perkins, Raewyn Martyn, Roy Good, Richard Elderton, Rupert Travis, Sione Monū, Steven Junil Park (6×4), Stone Maka, and Wayne Youle.

CoCA is a charity and is committed to cultivating a programme of free contemporary exhibitions and events that deepen connections to our place and our stories.

Exhibition catalogue will be available online 12 September 2026.

Counterbalance is showing from 12 to 20 September ✨️

01/09/2026

✨ Calling art makers! ✨

CoCA’s annual call for proposals for our 2027/2028 exhibition programme for Ō Papa Gallery and One Wall programme is now open!

This Open Call is for an exhibition programme beginning July 2027 for our downstairs Ō Papa Gallery, and for our One Wall Programme, beginning April 2027.

See the full Call for Proposals briefing documents on our website and links in our bio.

We are holding a proposal writing workshop on 15 September. If you are unable to attend, and have questions for us, please email: [email protected]

Please send proposals to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Call for Proposals - Ō Papa Gallery’ or 'Call for Proposals - One Wall Programme'. Artists can apply for both opportunities, although these need to be separate applications.

Submissions open: Tuesday 1 September 2026
Submissions close: 11.59pm, Wednesday 30 September 2026

Image caption: Gallery view 'E lē galo le tai // The tide is never forgotten', curated by Brown Town, from our 2025/2026 Open Call, photo credit Owen Spargo.

25/08/2026

📣 We have a couple of special fundraising events coming up! 📣

A rare screening of the life and art of late poet laureate Hone Tuwhare (1922-2008) by an extraordinary Kiwi filmmaker. Thanks to the generosity of Dame Gaylene Preston, this screening supports our exhibition programming.

Details
2.00pm Complimentary glass of w**e or b**r on arrival and nibbles
2.30pm Film starts
3.15pm Q&A with Dame Gaylene Preston
3.45pm event ends

Tickets $30 available from Humantix:
https://events.humanitix.com/hone-tuwhare-gaylene-preston

⚡

'Counterbalance'
Fundraising exhibition
12 - 20 September 2026

CoCA Toi Moroki is celebrating artists with a connection to CoCA and Waitaha Canterbury while raising funds for more artmaking through our inaugural fundraising exhibition.

Works on sale comprise contemporary painting, sculpture, jewellery and limited edition prints offered by established and emerging artists, both Aotearoa focussed and internationally renowned.

Image caption: 1. Promotional poster for 'Hone Tuwhare: No Other Lips', courtesy of the filmmaker, 2. Dame Gaylene Preston on set, courtesy of the filmmaker, 3. Oliver Perkins, Fig, 2025. Acrylic, ink, and watercolour on canvas, courtesy of the artist.

25/08/2026

24/08/2026

Last Friday we held a private opening for 'Whakawhanaungatanga' 2026.

Playing with the tradition of a salon-style hang, 'Whakawhanaungatanga' 2026 features the work of 36 tertiary students in a creative collaboration between Ara Institute of Canterbury and Ilam School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury.

Whakawhanaungatanga means the process of building and sustaining those multi-layered, flexible, and dynamic relationships and forms the foundation of our communities.

This annual exhibition continues to offer opportunities for connection, communal growth, and for tauira from both institutions to share their work with each other, the community, and the art world.

We are grateful to Ngāi Tūāhuriri for their support and warm welcome to our artists and guests.

Special thanks to our wonderful volunteers and gallery hospitality partners 💛

Join us in the following days for two activations:
3pm on Tuesday 25 August for a floor talk
4pm on Wednesday 25 August for an activation and workshop.

More details in our bio.

"Whakawhanaungatanga" is on until 30 August. Exhibition opening capture by the talented Charlie Mainwaring🌿