Artist Ira Mitchell well remembers visiting The Arts Centre as a child and heading straight for the open studios, where she could watch, learn and dream of one day having her own space in the neo-gothic corridors.
Now, with Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre reinstating the open studios, a popular attraction before the Canterbury earthquakes, Ira has joined eight other artists in five studios next to The Arts Centre Shop in the Engineering Extensions building.
“I always wanted to be part of this place,” Ira says. “It’s so lovely to walk into The Arts Centre each day. Lots of people need affordable studio space, especially as the cheaper housing shrinks and many apartments don’t have garages.”
Ira hopes that as word gets out, more people will come to visit and chat about the artwork.
The Arts Centre selected artists to achieve a balance of styles and methods, combined with suitability for the space. Painting and drawing are most common, with some ceramics and a fashion designer in the mix.
The Arts Centre’s studios are light, airy, warm and dry. Each has large glass windows onto a public corridor, so the public can see inside even when the studio is unoccupied.
Studios are open during Arts Centre hours, 10am-4pm daily.