Objectspace and Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA) join forces in new partnership

Credit: Mick Stephenson
Credit: Mick Stephenson
Auckland gallery Objectspace and Christchurch’s Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA) have announced an 18-month partnership which will see the organisations working together to develop and deliver exhibitions.

The partnership aims to create national opportunities for artists, writers and curators by sharing resources and expertise to develop an innovative offering for audiences that extends between both locations in the North and South Islands.

The collaboration will see four seasons of exhibitions delivered across CoCA’s Mair and North Galleries and Objectspace’s Ockham and Chartwell Galleries. Amongst the programme highlights will be the major exhibition Hostile Architecture that will open simultaneously across the two venues in late 2021.

The partnership will be welcome news for artists who have been impacted by COVID-19, particularly as the pandemic sees widespread funding cuts affect arts organisations nationally.

Artists from across the country, but particularly those based in Canterbury, are set to benefit from the move as the exhibition programme will feature multiple opportunities for work to be shown at the two venues nationally.

The Objectspace team will begin working alongside CoCA staff from September 2020 remotely with regular visits to Canterbury. Programme delivery is scheduled to commence in March 2021 through to March 2022.

Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA). Credit: Mick Stephenson

Canterbury Society of Arts chair Anna Ryan has said she is looking forward to ushering in this new era for CoCA.

“I am delighted to see this programme partnership between CoCA and Objectspace come to fruition. With the Canterbury Society of Arts, which operates the CoCA gallery, celebrating its 140th anniversary this year, it is wonderful to be able to mark this historic occasion with the launch of an initiative that offers so much potential for the future,” she said.

“Partnering with Objectspace for the next 18 months presents many opportunities for the Christchurch visual arts sector, and I hope that this pioneering collaboration will serve as a blueprint for further creative partnerships going forward.”

Objectspace director Kim Paton says this new opportunity is invigorating at a time when the cultural sector is struggling with the challenges brought about by COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has brought into close view how precarious the sustainability of the public gallery sector is nationally. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities partnering with CoCA presents,” she said.

“Together our aim is to share resources and expertise to achieve ambitious exhibitions that couldn’t be undertaken alone. It’s about continuing to put artists, makers and exhibitions at the heart of what we do, offering exciting and rewarding opportunities for artists and audiences alike.”

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