Centre of Contemporary Art

The Centre of Contemporary Art is an art museum in central Christchurch featuring rotating exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, installations, and digital works. The galleries spread across multiple spaces that were extensively renovated to showcase contemporary art forms.

The institution was founded in 1880 as Canterbury Society of Arts and moved to its current Gloucester Street location in 1968. The building survived major earthquakes in 2011 and underwent significant restoration work afterwards.

The centre displays work by local and international artists and invites visitors to join discussions and workshops about contemporary art. These events create opportunities for artists and audiences to connect and share ideas about modern artistic practice.

The location is easily accessible on foot from the city centre and clearly marked from nearby streets. Visitors should allow time to walk between the different gallery spaces in order to see all the exhibitions properly.

The building represents the Christchurch Style of modernist architecture developed by local architects in the post-war period. This regional building approach became an important part of the city's character and shows how the local architectural scene created its own identity.

Location: Christchurch City

Inception: 1880

Website: http://coca.org.nz

GPS coordinates: -43.53010,172.63200

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:42