Ōtautahi Christchurch is already well known for its creative interventions in the city over the past decade. Now, Gap Filler has established the Place of Play HQ at 153 High Street.

This is the headquarters of a new three year programme to establish Ōtautahi Christchurch as a world capital of Urban Play. The Place of Play programme will use play to make the city more memorable, equitable, sociable, diverse and fun!

An impressive array of partners on the programme include the Christchurch City Council, Matapopore Charitable Trust, Community & Public Health, Smart Cities Christchurch, ChristchurchNZ, InCommon, Dr Anne Wagner of Copenhagen Landscape Architecture and Planning, Mental Health Foundation, CerebralFix Limited, Sport Canterbury, Dr Troy Innocent of RMIT University Future Play Lab, Healthy Families Christchurch, Watch This Space and The White Room Creative Space,

The intentions of this Place of Play programme are to use play to create a vibrant central city; build identity, community and connection; promote active citizenship; use technology and explore creative ways to activate space; foster diverse partnerships and collaboration; lead and advocate for play in all sectors; and most of all, have fun!

Kate Finnerty is the coordinator of Place of Play. She said play has a magic ability to engage the senses, connect communities, prompt conversations and create new ways of doing things.

“It’s just as important for adults to play as well as children. Play allows us to imagine and find solutions for a future that is different to today.”

The Pae Tākaro Place of Play HQ will be a public frontage for play in the city with installations and exhibitions changing every 6 to 8 weeks. The space will also be used by partners and other organisations to come together - connect, collaborate and showcase their work.

Finnerty has been working on a series of diverse events and installations that bring play to the streets of Ōtautahi Christchurch. Recent events include skating, slacklining, and aerial skills workshops.

Upcoming Place of Play projects feature projection works, yarn bombs, a playful approach to a council consultation, and an augmented reality tour. Place of Play partners Watch this Space and The White Room Creative Space have both completed successful Boosted campaigns for the Little Street Art Festival and the White Room on Wheels respectively.

“It’s a really exciting programme, there are so many aspects to it. We will work with our partners to dream up projects, events and responses to what it means to play, for the benefit of this city as a whole and of course, for its people.”

If you would like to find out more you can email kate@gapfiller.org.nz or drop into 153 High Street to talk with Kate, Tuesdays and Thursdays between midday and 2pm.

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