10 Dec 2018

Interactive street art will take centre stage in Guthrey Lane in central Christchurch.

Developer the Peebles Group, with support from cultural adviser Matapopore, is running a competition to find three interactive artworks for the new laneway off Cashel Mall.

The winning artists will pick up $5000 worth of prizes, as well as having the opportunity to work with a renowned Ngāi Tahu artist to develop their work to include Māori icons and language.

The trio of art sites within the laneway includes the Lichfield, Ballantynes and East Entrance walls.

Interactive street art will feature in Guthrey Lane.

Interactive street art will feature in Guthrey Lane.

Group Chief Executive Richard Peebles believes that street art is key to activating the central city’s internal laneways.

“Street art is an important ‘layer’ of the laneways,” he says. “We are looking for clever, imaginative, interactive art that people will seek out.

“We want the artwork to become a local and international tourist attraction.”

Mr Peebles hopes that the art will incorporate an “indigenous cultural aspect, referencing local history” and the Avon River.

It must also be thoughtful and playful, with references to local flora and fauna, eels, birdlife, people, places, and the history of the local Maori.

“I would love to see the laneway connect through to the Farmers Market with a series of interactive street art, from the Avon River right through to Ballantynes,” he says.

Mr Peebles says DCM Urban designer David Compton-Moen suggested the street art competition.

“We were in the process of consulting with Matapopore and David suggested including young, up-and-coming artists and involving Matapopore and a well-known Ngāi Tahu artist to incorporate some local cultural elements into the design,” he says.

Entries or concept designs for the interactive street art competition must be submitted by December 20 at 4pm.

The winners will be announced on December 24.