Uxbridge Arts Centre

Uxbridge Arts Centre
By The Auckland Psychogeographer

The Howick ward area is home to over 130,000 people, includes Pakuranga, Botany, Flat Bush, East Tamaki and Howick itself, and is considered to be New Zealand’s fifth largest urban area - dwarfing many towns around the country.

A centre for the performing arts was established on this site in 1981 by the then Howick Borough Council, and is operated by the charitable trust, Uxbridge Community Projects. A $6.5 million contemporary redesign was completed with support from Auckland Council in 2016, designed by Harry Street from Creative Spaces, with elements that honour founding member of Uxbridge, architect Malcolm Smith including a new gallery space, and especially in the light-filled and open entrance and atrium area. The facility is completely disabled-access friendly.

Wisely, the new design salvages an old church structure for the theatre-space, with warm acoustics and a naturalistic atmosphere thanks to a low-rise stage. With a modest capacity, the theatre at Uxbridge offers a unique sweet-spot for intimacy and authenticity in performance.

Howick is not necessarily known for its nightlife, but Uxbridge is more and more a hub for it, with jazz, world music and contemporary concerts and comedy events happening frequently. There are numerous art exhibitions in the various spaces - recent extensive shows include contemporary photography and painting - as well as a rich programme of classes, workshops, and kids activities throughout the year. New horizons include a proposed wedding fair, and activation of the sun-drenched frontage of the centre.

Image Credits: NZPlaces and The Auckland Psychogeographer