Christchurch's iconic Arts Centre is facing possible closure. With no public funding, staff are facing redundancies as cuts are made to stay afloat.
Tonight the Christchurch Arts Centre is under threat.
"We are completely unfunded by anybody and to maintain these buildings and open it to the public and try and be an arts centre at the same time is very challenging with no funding at all," CEO Philip Aldridge says.
Home to New Zealand's largest collection of heritage buildings, it draws in 650,000 visitors a year.
But with a $1.5 million deficit per year and ongoing costs restoring the remaining quake-damaged buildings, Aldridge says without funding it all could be lost.
"We've been struggling for years to try and keep it together and now we're reaching the end of the road and sadly looking at the possibility that we might have to close entirely," Aldridge says.
Aldridge believes that could be as soon as the end of next year.
"I think it's very sad, as kids we grew up coming to the Arts Centre and that was part of our day to day life on the weekends, coming to the markets and seeing the different food stalls," one member of the public told Newshub.
"It'll be a pity, it's a huge tourist draw and Christchurch needs all the tourist-people it can get. It's very popular so it'll be very sad to see it go," another said.
The Arts Centre is restructuring its 30 staff, and pleading for help from the public purse.
The council says any funding for the iconic centre will be decided on in their long-term district planning due out next year.
"We need an indication from them that there is a hope of that so that we can plan for the future," Aldridge says.
And to keep this iconic landmark open for future creatives.
