Centre of Contemporary Art facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Centre of Contemporary Art |
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The CoCA gallery
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | modernist |
| Location | Christchurch Central City |
| Address | 66 Gloucester Street, Christchurch |
| Coordinates | 43°31′48″S 172°37′55″E / 43.5301°S 172.6320°E |
| Construction started | 1968 |
| Renovated | 2011–2016 |
| Renovation cost | NZ$4.1 m |
| Owner | CSA Charitable Trust |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Minson, Henning Hansen |
The Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA) is a cool art gallery in Christchurch, New Zealand. It used to be called the Canterbury Society of Arts. CoCA is managed by a special group called the Canterbury Society of Arts Charitable Trust. It shows amazing modern art.
Contents
CoCA's Story: A Look Back
How CoCA Started: The Early Years
CoCA began way back in 1880. It was first known as the Canterbury Society of Arts (CSA). This group was the first to show and collect art in Christchurch. Soon, it became a very important art society in New Zealand.
The first art show was in 1881. It took place at Christchurch Boys' High School. This building later became part of the Christchurch Arts Centre. The CSA played a big role in New Zealand's growing art world. In the 1930s, it showed art by "The Group". This group included famous New Zealand painters. Some of these artists were Rita Angus, Evelyn Page, and Doris Lusk.
The CSA got its first permanent home in 1890. This building was designed just for them. It was created by Benjamin Mountfort, a well-known New Zealand architect. This building was a great example of the Gothic Revival style. A second gallery was added next door in 1894. It was designed by Richard Dacre Harman. Both buildings were on the New Zealand Historic Places Trust list. Sadly, they were taken down after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Moving to Gloucester Street and Becoming CoCA
In 1968, the CSA moved to a bigger place. This new home was at 66 Gloucester Street. The gallery building was made especially for art. It is a great example of the 'Christchurch Style'. This style was used by modern architects in Canterbury after the war. The building won two awards from the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
After this move, the gallery did very well. It was known for showing some of the most new and exciting art in New Zealand. The CSA helped start the careers of many local New Zealand artists. These included Neil Dawson, Bruce Edgar, Ross Marwick, and Boyd Webb. Their first art shows were held there in June 1971.
In 1996, the CSA gallery changed its name. It became CoCA Centre of Contemporary Art. In 2016, the gallery was given a special Māori name, Toi Moroki, by Ngāi Tahu. So, the gallery's full name became CoCA Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art.
Earthquake Damage and Recovery
Like many important buildings in Christchurch, the CoCA gallery was damaged. This happened during the February 2011 earthquakes. In 2013, a special team helped save all the artworks. This "rescue squad" included volunteers and experts from Te Papa. They recovered all the art that was stuck inside the building. This included art on display and the gallery's own collection. About four million dollars was spent to fix, strengthen, and update the building.
CoCA Today: New Focus
CoCA reopened on February 13, 2016. It was in its newly fixed and modern gallery space on Gloucester Street. However, the gallery had to close again for a short time. This was because the 2016 Christchurch earthquake happened the day after it reopened.
Since 2022, CoCA has changed its focus. It now works to support its local art community. An artist-led group plans the shows. They choose artists through an open call process. CoCA continues to show art by famous New Zealand artists. These include the late Robyn Kahukiwa, Judy Darragh, and Ron Te Kawa. It also shows art by new artists, like the art group The Killing.
