Creative spaces

Through the Aho Tini consultation, we heard the message loud and clear – artists need access to spaces where they can develop and showcase their work, and there is a significant lack of (especially specialist) spaces for the sector in Pōneke.

As part of our Aho Tini Action Plan, we’ve been busy working with arts organisations and custodians to build connections and find spaces that can meet artists’ needs.

Bookable spaces

These bookable spaces around the city are available for hire by members of our creative community. If you're interested in any of these spaces, you can find out more by searching the list below or by contacting the custodians.

If you're a creative looking for space, or a custodian looking to make space available, get in touch with our Creative Capital Team at buscityarts@wcc.govt.nz.

Other bookable Council spaces

The Council has a range of indoor and outdoor venues that, while not specifically focused on artist needs, may be suitable for your purpose:

• Council venues for hire
• Community centres
• Recreation centres

The Hannah Playhouse

Wellington City Council and Hannah Playhouse Trust are working together to operate the Hannah Playhouse as a theatre laboratory for a diverse range of artists and organisations. This will allow them to develop their professional performing arts practice.

With a focus on mid and senior career artists, our unique 250-seater theatre is an ideal space for dedicated exploration, enabling deeper development of new works, as well as offering a flexible mid-scale presentation space for independent seasons. Our programme is curated to deliver to all four pou of the Aho Tini Strategy, with a commitment to nurturing the performing arts sector and in turn the whole of Wellington.

If you are interested in proposing a project for development or presentation in the Hannah programme, please email Isobel MacKinnon with an outline of your team and project for consideration: isobelmackinnon@wcc.govt.nz

Urban Dream Brokerage

Supported by Wellington City Council, Urban Dream Brokerage works with property stakeholders, artists, individuals, and community groups, to broker the temporary use of space, be it public or commercial, empty or underutilised, for innovative projects assisting in urban revitalisation.

They provide space for new community-building ideas from artists, creatives, and social practitioners, and for artists and community groups to collaborate and develop.  

Check out the exciting work they do to foster creativity in our city – visit the Urban Dream Brokerage website.

Arts Access Aotearoa

Arts Access Aotearoa | Putanga Toi ki Aotearoa’s purpose is to increase access to the arts for people who experience barriers to participation as artists, performers, audience members, and gallery and museum visitors. It does this by working in the disability, mental health and Deaf communities, and through a network of community arts organisations called creative spaces. It also works with the professional arts sector to help them improve their access to Deaf and disabled audiences.

You can search their creative spaces directory for spaces available in the Wellington region.