25 Nov 2016

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Foot traffic at the Arts Centre is set to get even busier with the i-SITE Visitor Information Centre opening in a heritage-listed building on Monday.

Owned by Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism, the i-SITE has been attracting 250,000 visitors a year in its temporary location in the Botanic Gardens on Rolleston Avenue.

But on November 28 it will move into a new 170 sqm space in the Arts Centre’s Boys’ High Building that will be shared with the Department of Conservation (DoC).

Arts Centre Chief Executive André Lovatt says the Worcester Boulevard location is a natural fit for the i-SITE with its proximity to tourist destinations, including Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Art Gallery and the Botanic Gardens.

“Attracting locals to the site remains our primary focus but, given our location, it’s ideal to have the city’s official i-SITE here. It will generate an enormous amount of foot traffic for the Arts Centre, and help to make Boys’ High a great opportunity for other specialty retail tenants.”

The Boys’ High Building is opening in stages, with the i-SITE and other ground floor businesses opening first, followed by the spaces on the first floor and mezzanine level. The plan is for a café tenant and other retailers to move in later. 

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism Chief Executive Vic Allen says the i-SITE is the first port of call for many visitors to Christchurch and the South Island, and is expected to attract over 280,000 visitors in the 2016-17 season.

More than half of the Arts Centre site has been progressively re-opened this year as part of an extensive post-quake restoration project. The Great Hall re-opened in June and is now open to the public 10am to 5pm daily. The revamped Rutherford’s Den is operating, and Bunsen Café opened its doors in the old Le Café premises just a few weeks ago. The Registry building already houses the Canterbury Cheesemongers and the recently opened Curator’s Deli.  Zen Sushi and Dumplings is opening there today.

Arts Centre leasing manager Louise Sutherland says there is a lot of public interest in a return of the iconic Arts Centre market. Hosting a market would “definitely be a consideration” for the future but she is unsure when a decision will be made.

The Arts Centre will be a hot-spot for outdoor movie lovers this summer, with the restored North Quad hosting the Leighs Construction Summer Cinema series on the second Friday of the month. The first movies announced are Friday December 9, 5.30pm The Muppet Christmas Carol and at 8pm, Love Actually. Entry is by a gold coin donation that will go towards the Arts Centre restoration programme.