Thats a wrap 2018!

All we can say is Wow…

Thanks to everyone who was a part of it.

We hosted:
187 Events | 25 creative types |16 Exhibitions
Over half were no cost to the community; supported by the E.Artist Fund.

Here's a few showcase highlights:

January
• Famous sign-writer Signs Of Power from Dublin Ireland stayed in our loft apartment and did a mural that's still in the cafe.

February
• Celebrity chef Jax Hamilton started hosting cooking workshops.
• Went to Enspiral Summerfest to expand networks (and make friends)
• Jacob Root (distranged design) did a mural; his first large scale piece
• Attended Purpose 2018 in Sydney to meet other for purpose businesses

March
• The Hum hosted a workshop on how to operate and lead from a decentralized or non-hierarchical methodology. 
• The Rubbish Trip taught us how to reduce waste in our daily lives
• Performance artist/activist and author Larry Bogad stayed and shared examples of his work! (we have his 2 books in our library)
• Preston (Exchange Operator) became a Global Shaper

April
• Composer Jonathan Crayford stayed and performed at XCHC
• Joan and Sofie from Spektrum Arkitekter (Denmark) showed us the importance of community-engaged design
• Welcomed CHUZKOS ~ Multidisciplinary Mobile Collective

May
• Talked to Artspace about creating affordable live-in/work-in spaces for artists.
• Met Richard Webb :D
• Hosted AXON BOWER
• AND Sea Sheppard NZ!
• Started carrying 27seconds Wine!

June
• Seeds Podcast (Steven Moe) hosted an Impact Lunch for Social Entrepreneurs
• Started hosting the XCHC Makers Market
• Shareable skyped into our Sharing Cities event and complimented our work in building a Sharing Economy and culture.
• Started hosting social tango classes

July
• Started working on the Christchurch Arts Strategy
• Our first Street Art/Graffiti exhibition with The RAD Collective
• Explored what X-ZQN (Exchange Queenstown) might look like

August
• Everybody Eats pop-up w/ Street Wise to feed the homeless
• Hosted the Return Flight exhibition EDN > MEL > CHC
• Felt hosted a Makers & Designers Hui
• We had a MapJam

September
• 3 fundraiser events for Home & Family, Cancer Society, & Just Dirt Trust
• We hosted The Output Project choreographed by Chloe Levings
• Lochlan (14) had his first exhibition, Palaeontological, with the support of the Emerging Artist Fund

October
• Sketchy Fulla hosted his first exhibition
• Uruguayan artist Verónica Artagaveytia hosted an exhibition where she gifted her work to the attendees of the opening
• Guest curator Bianca introduced her CuraCuraDoria methodology to our community
• Once more with Feeling | Performance by David Huggins, Josie Archer and Kosta Bogoievski 

November
• Celebrated Living Wage week with MP Duncan Webb. We're the only accredited hospitality employer in Christchurch
• Joel McKerrow & Holly Arrowsmith performed touring with Tearfund
• We hosted our first Art Social
• The cafe is now "Pedro's Cafe"! (branding coming soon)

December
• Future NZ & CreepThreadz hosted an epic pop-up shop
• We're launching this secret fundraiser for a young local artist
• We hosted the CCS Disability Action exhibition
• 10 Residents featured work in group showcase/exhibition 

So… what we’re trying to say is…

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ps. We’ve decided the reason we’re here is to simply eat together, talk, and get creative.
Join us any time!

No One Owns XCHC

No One Owns XCHC

It can be hard to keep up with Exchange. The vibe changes daily depending on the exhibitions and events, and as a social enterprise the business is for purpose, not for profit.  When we stop to ask ourselves how it’s all going we’re looking at more than just financial stability, we’re asking if we’re supporting the creative community and providing them with the space and the networks that they need.  I sat down with my colleague Preston to chat about where Exchange is at - what has remained the same since it first opened and what has changed - and where we see it going in the future. 
- Brie

Dumplings & Drinks with Momo Said

Since extending our hours, XCHC has become an open source bar, inviting the public to come in and tell their stories through food.  The first group to take us on our word was Momo Said, an organisation that uses their dumpling business to support and up-skill migrant and refugee communities in Christchurch. Dumplings & Drinks occurred on World Refugee Day, and Christchurch was treated to dumpling folding lessons as well as plates and plates of momos.

Chats with curator and photographer Hannah Watkinson

Arts and community organisations can get a lot of flack for the perception of what they are or aren’t doing, but I think that in Christchurch they are doing really well.  We’ve got some incredible people in the city and we just need to do everything we can to encourage them to stay here.  Give them opportunities, be flexible.  Their skills may be incredibly useful in any organisation, but for them to want to stick around they need to have the time and resources to do their own things. 

XCHC Bar

XCHC Bar

The magic of XCHC is not in one person’s creative passion, this place is at its best when everyone is coming together and sharing their passions.  So I’m opening it up to you - what do you want XCHC to be now that we’re open in the evenings?

Interview with Liam Dangerfield

Interview with Liam Dangerfield

"This is a place that allows people to give things a go without putting too much stress or pressure on them. If you want to try something, go for it, and you’ve got an awesome and supportive environment to do it. This place is so important to Christchurch, and it’s a place that I’m very glad to have been a part of." - Liam Dangerfield

Invitation: "Spreading the Soup Love"

Invitation: "Spreading the Soup Love"

Got a great idea for a cool, fun project for Christchurch that you’ve been itching to get off the ground? 

CHCH SOUP is the event for you. It might be an event, a little project, an artwork, a working bee to get something done in your neighbourhood, garden… anything really. It’s just got to be achievable within 3 months or a discrete part of it does. To that end, SOUP is supporting small, relatively easily achievable local projects get off the ground.