About Us

Our Vision is to serve the Waimakariri District as a Creative Center where everyone feels enthusiastic, encouraged and positively impacted by the arts.

A place to create, learn, explore, demonstrate and display visual arts.

As a multi use space we produce high calibre art exhibitions, workshops, artist forums and community gatherings.

We have a vision for Oxford as a ‘destination for the arts’ where we create meaningful connection for the community & strategic partners and a fertile platform for collaboration to thrive.

Our Purpose

The charitable purposes of Oxford Arts Trust that governs Oxford Gallery are to promote the visual arts in Oxford Waimakariri region by providing a centre for creative development, production and presentation. Support and assistance can include:

  • Providing a Centre for the development of art, artistic skills, artistic appreciation and wellbeing through the arts
  • Facilitating professional development for arts practitioners
  • Providing art education which is beneficial to the community and the general public
  • Providing arts advocacy and consultation which is beneficial to the arts sector in the region
  • Encouraging community participation and inclusion through artistic events, workshops, projects, exhibitions and forums
  • Presenting, producing, managing and conducting art exhibitions, displays, performances and activities as will promote arts and culture
  • Providing facilities where artists from various disciplines can exhibit, install, create or promote artistic works
  • Offering support and assistance consistent with the charitable purpose of the Trust for the benefit of the Oxford Community and Waimakariri region

History

Our purpose-built gallery and gift shop were opened in 2010; this was made possible by a generous donation and on-going support from the Canterbury Community Trust and Rata Foundation.

Whilst the vision for an Arts centre in Oxford is 30 years old, planning in earnest began in 2007. In February 2010 Stage One of the centre, the gallery and retail space, was opened by Chris Finlayson; Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage. 

Since its opening it has been visited by over 40,000 people. Visitors are impressed at the high quality of artworks on display and the gallery is acquiring a reputation nationally as an excellent exhibition space.

The centre has enhanced the artistic and cultural life of the Oxford community; it is utilised by local school groups and supports not only local Oxford artists, but also artists from the Canterbury Region and Aotearoa.

In 2021 we changed our name from Arts in Oxford to Oxford Gallery.

Retail Gallery

The Fine Art gift shop offers a wide range of quality New Zealand artworks and gifts including ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles, paintings and prints.

Visit us

72 Main Street, Oxford, New Zealand
View map

Hours

Thursday – Friday  / 11am – 2pm
Sunday & Easter Weekend / 11am – 3pm
Monday – Wednesday & public holidays / Closed

Our People

OUR VOLUNTEERS

Oxford Gallery would not be able to operate if it wasn’t for the generosity of our 20 or so volunteers. These talented individuals ensure that the gallery and retail space are open for you. Our Volunteers are available to give background information on exhibiting artists and will assist with purchases of art works and gifts by local and international artists.

OXFORD ARTS TRUST

Trustees and Volunteers are responsible for the day to day running of Oxford Gallery.

As a not-for-profit organisation, Oxford Gallery is governed by the Oxford Arts Trust. Our board of trustees comprises: Dr Areta Wilkinson Chair, Bret de Thier, Miranda Brown, Mark Adams and Ilona Rodgers.

OUR PATRON

Our patron Philip Trusttum is one of New Zealand’s most recognised and celebrated contemporary painters. Philip graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts from the University of Canterbury School of Art in 1964 and is represented in all major public and private collections within New Zealand. In 1967 he travelled on a Queen Elizabeth 11 Arts Council scholarship, and went on to work in Europe and North America. He was part of ANZART at the Edinburgh Arts Festival, 1984 – the same year he exhibited on New York’s 57th Street at the Jill Kornblee Gallery. He has shown in Sydney, New York, Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch. In 1998 he was the only New Zealand artist reviewed in the New York Times and in 2000 was awarded the Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant – only the second New Zealander to gain this prestigious award.

In 2002 Trusttum built a large tin shed behind his elegant wooden two-storey house at 18 Peterborough Street – near the Avon River in central Christchurch. The studio survived the major earthquakes of September 2010 and February 2011 but sadly the house has had to be demolished.

Following the February 22nd earthquake, Trusttum worked tirelessly with fellow artist Barry Cleavin to organise the hugely successful “Moving On” exhibition at Arts in Oxford which showed the work of many Canterbury artists affected by the earthquakes.

Thank you to our Funders and Supporters

Rata Foundation
Creative New Zealand
Waimakariri District Creative Communities
Pub Charities Ltd

A special Thank you to Philip Trusttum our arts patron for his dedication and support of the gallery.