The Art Gallery

Drug-ARM (Awareness Relief Movement) Christchurch was established in the 1990s to respond to the negative impact of drug and alcohol abuse in our communities. We are an NGO and a Registered Charitable Trust (Charities Commission # CC30276).

Drug-ARM established Art-East in 2014 with the vision of creating a safe place of support for people who have or are struggling with alcohol or drug issues. Since then, Art-East has grown from strength to strength. Some highlights have been being honored with the Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Holdsworth Creative Space Award in 2021 and receiving funding from Manatu Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Creative Spaces Initiative for an expansion of our services.

Art-East regularly go on field trips to visit local galleries and attractions to widen and inspire members’ perspectives on life. This has led to involvement in collaborative art exhibitions, community projects and meeting with established Christchurch artists to learn new creative processes.

At Art East, art and creativity are used as vehicles to process, find healing, connection and a sense of belonging. The sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from Art-East members trying something creative and new, whether that be experimenting with a new artistic medium, supporting each other through difficult times or extending themselves to connect with more community activities has been life changing for many of our people.

Art-East partners with many community agencies, including Pathway Trust, The Salvation Army Bridge Programme, Hapori Ora, Nova Trust & Haeata Community Campus.

For further information contact: Lis-027 436 9922

[email protected]