Directory & Map
Homestead Galleries
Free Entry
Open Mon-Sat, 10am - 4.00pm
The Homestead Galleries feature an innovative programme of contemporary art exhibitions by local and international artists. We pride ourselves on being inclusive, and our purpose it to create opportunities for diverse communities to speak from and offer experiences that strengthen and promote community.
Exhibitions are accompanied by a full range of free public programmes including artist talks, exhibition tours and art workshops for kids.
Gallery Shop
Open Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm
The Gallery Shop at Corban Estate Arts Centre features exquisite handcrafted artwork by leading artists from West Auckland and across Aotearoa. Purchases can be made over the phone and complimentary gift wrapping is provided for free on request.
Coffee Studio
Open Mon-Sat, 10am-3pm
A hidden gem that is a favourite among its regulars, our Coffee Studio is hosted by Susan and Brent, who run the cafe as an ethical business, committed to conscious consumption. With delicious freshly baked counter food and seasonal kitchen fare, the Coffee Studio serves Riley Organic Coffee alongside a great range of refreshments for the non-coffee drinker. Playing an eclectic mix of vinyl from late 60s rocksteady to Lo-fi pop, our Coffee Studio is the perfect place to eat, drink and relax during your visit to Corban Estate Arts Centre.
Pacifica Arts Centre
The Pacifica Arts Centre is a home base for Pacific art, culture and community in Waitakere. Established in the late 1980’s the centre’s vision is to develop and support Pacific arts and cultural projects, with a focus on Pacific heritage art practices.
www.pacificaarts.org
Te Pou Theatre
Te Pou Theatre is a kaupapa Māori theatre for all, located in Corban Arts Estate Centre. Embodying the literal meaning of its name ‘The Support Post’; acting as a constant and reliable presence for our performing arts community and Māori storytelling in Tāmaki Makaurau and abroad.
www.tepoutheatre.nz
The Textile Hub
Featuring new felting machinery, Liz Mitchell's Wool and Natural Fibres Textile Hub will bring innovative textile ideas to life and provide support for future education and workshops.
www.lizmitchell.co.nz
Waitākere Arts
Waitākere Arts are an artist led and run community art organisation with a passion for creating and exhibiting art, both for enjoyment and for those who would like to take a more professional approach.
www.waitakerearts.com
Mind Over Manner
Mind Over Manner is a charity organisation that uses the power of theatre to ignite social change in our communities. Their mission is to use creative process to introduce participants to an alternative way of understanding rangatahi who sense and learn differently, who experience anxiety, and who identify as neurodivergent - seated in Takiwātanga – in their own time and space.
www.mindovermanner.co.nz/
Uhi Tapu
Uhi Tapu is an indigenous tattoo studio run by Mokonuiarangi Smith who works by hand with the traditional Maori and Polynesian hand tools known as Uhi. The work made with the tools draws on traditional and contemporary aesthetics, ancestral values and modern hygiene.
www.moko-smith.com
Red Leap Theatre
Red Leap is a devising theatre company, dedicated to innovating theatrical form through the intersection of dynamic physicality, arresting imagery, and inventive original storytelling.We strongly believe in the strength of collaboration to celebrate the power of the imagination.
www.redleaptheatre.co.nz
Atamira Dance Company
Located upstairs in the Opānuku Studio at Corban Estate Arts Centre, Atamira was founded as a collective of dance artists in 2000. One of Aotearoa | New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance companies, Atamira occupies a unique space in the arts landscape, renowned for their deep and mesmerising work.
www.atamiradance.co.nz
Māreikura Rising
Māreikura Rising provides different forms of Hauora to uplift, empower and educate Wāhine and whānau by providing spaces that are safe to speak truth and share experiences, that create open and honest healing. Located downstairs in the Opānuku Building, it is accessible by entering the main Opānuku doors and continuing straight through Worksroom 1.
Māreikura Rising offers community clinics, one one-to-one private Mirimiri / Romiromi, Taiawa Steaming and Haputanga sessions, Rongoā and facilitating many different Wānanga.
www.mareikura.co.nz
Whaotapu o Tāmaki Makaurau
Whaotapu are a collective of Tohunga Toi Ake who have been recognised and mandated by their tribes for generations. Acknowledged as traditional knowledges holders, experts, and authorities of Māori art, culture, heritage, Whaotapu are supported by mana whenua whānau, hapū, iwi, matawaka, and communities across Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa, weaving people together through a kaupapa that is both transformative and enduring.
www.whaotapu.com
Old St Michael's Church
With a beautiful, paved entranceway the deconsecrated Old St Michael’s church provides a stunning venue for any event. Bench seating offers the chance to sit and chat whilst waiting for the wedding party's arrival or a spot to enjoy a well-deserved break away from a workshop.
Located on the main lawn of the Estate, the Church's surrounds offer the opportunity to throw out a picnic blanket in the sunshine or seek shelter under the plentiful tree canopy.
Quaint in size, its polished floorboards, tongue-and-groove wall panels, and leadlight windows nod to its rich history and former life across Great North Road, where it was originally built and stood for many years before being relocated to our historic site.
The Church is perfect for intimate gatherings, art workshops, celebrations, small civil ceremonies, film and television productions, and performances.
Opānuku Studio
Opanuku Studio is a multi-functional space used regularly for dance rehearsals, wananga, workshops, and community events.
Located on the upper level of our Opanuku building with accessible lift - the Studio is light and airy with a mirrored wall, high ceilings, beams, and wooden floors.
The large frosted glass sliding doors can be opened to create more space and connect to the adjoining common area and adjacent kitchen and servery, or closed to make the space more private.
The Barrel Store
The Barrel Store is located in the Still Building which runs alongside the Western Line train track. This historic space exudes character with original wooden interior roof framing, windows, and brick walls. Reinforced and strengthened in the mid-2000s saw the installation of concrete walls and floors, and industrial heavy-duty steel beams.
The footprint of the space is long and narrow with an entrance door at one end and original large wooden barn-style sliding doors at the other secured with chunky chain and padlock. These open onto the exterior wooden deck and bench seats perfect to enjoy during warmer months.
It is frequently used for private events (subject to approval), film, music, photography shoots, exhibitions, and weddings, as well as a making and studio space.
Shed 2
Shed 2 has a unique history - originally built to accommodate the growth of the Corban Family Winery business from small to large-scale manufacture.
At 720sqm in size, the shed's basketball court markings are reminiscent of Basketball Auckland's tenancy of the space in the 90s. The space now lends itself to accommodate rehearsals, markets, community events, film, music, television shoots, and more.
Skylights provide a wonderful source of natural light during the day, and the walls lined with silver builders' paper behind raw framing offer a humble aesthetic.
Note: This venue is not available for weddings.
The Cellar & Theatrette
Once used by the Corban Family to host wine tastings and tours, the Cellar is an underground space located in the oldest building on the Estate.
Entry from the Upper Cellar entranceway down a flight of stairs leads you into the lower L-shaped function room which provides ample room for performance, dancefloor, and dining areas for an intimate gathering. The red-painted concrete floors, wooden pillars, and white walls provide a unique backdrop for film students and professionals alike.
The function room leads down a few steps into the adjoining theatrette with tiered seating for a film screening or presentation. Given both spaces are underground, there is no natural light into them at all. The theatrette is also accessible from the Lower Cellar entranceway adjacent to the Public Bathrooms.
Wool Revolution Studio
Wool Revolution Studio exists to connect and extend a community of wool felting artists, students, designers and researchers, and explore the potential of wool product design in homes and architectural spaces.
Meeting Room
Starting out as a meeting room, transformed into a studio, then a cafe - this space has come full-circle!
Exhibiting the works of some of our operational team onsite who are artists in their own right, this space offers privacy with frosted windows, natural lighting and carpet underfoot.
Used for intimate meetings, workshops, as a breakout space, green room, or film shoot base. There is a small courtyard in front with a few tables to enjoy morning or afternoon tea or lunch during break times.
The Corban Heritage Room
The Corban Heritage Room is a shared meeting room / office space
The Art Room
The Art Room is a workspace suitable for running painting workshops. It is situated upstairs in the Opānuku building.
Projectspace
Projectspace is a workroom suitable for running large arts workshops. It is situated downstairs in the Opānuku Building and has french doors that open onto the laneway.
Workroom 1
Workroom 1 is a generously sized workspace suitable for holding medium sized arts workshops. It is accessible from the main Opānuku Building entranceway.
Workroom 2
Workroom 2 is a generously sized workspace suitable for holding medium sized arts workshops. It is accessible from the main Opānuku Building entranceway.
Kākano Youth Arts Collective
Kākano Youth Arts Collective is a unique West Auckland visual arts initiative for at-risk youth. It operates from Studio 6.
@kakanoyoutharts
The Kiln Room
The Kiln Room has a medium sized kiln that can be used at cost with the guidance of our onsite technician by appointment.
For enquiries please contact: venuehire@ceac.org.nz
Upper Graffiti Walls
These legal graffiti walls began as a project titled 'The Wall of Fame', circa 1996-1997.
Led by the likes of Opto, DLT, Dan Tippet the workshop featured writers such as Phat1 TMD (The Maxx Dose) and the skills that developed led to many of the artists later being commissioned to produce large-scale murals across wider Auckland in the years following.
Since then, these walls have been regularly painted by TMD and the wider graffiti scene, with regular battles held on-site each year. With the support of past Corban Estate Director Martin Sutcliffe, the walls have remained an important West Auckland landmark for emerging and established graffiti writers to express themselves.
The designated sites for public graffiti are located on the upper and lower walls only. This does not include the back of the walls on the driveway leading to the Corbans Homestead. Any graffiti painted on un-permitted areas will be buffed by the Waitakere Tag Out Trust immediately.
As there are very few legal walls in Auckland, please help us maintain this space by demonstrating mahi kotahitanga (co-operation/unity). If you are questioned by anybody while painting, please refer them to this information.
TMD Graffiti Walls
These legal graffiti walls began as a project titled 'The Wall of Fame', circa 1996-1997.
Led by the likes of Opto, DLT, Dan Tippet the workshop featured writers such as Phat1 TMD (The Maxx Dose) and the skills that developed led to many of the artists later being commissioned to produce large-scale murals across wider Auckland in the years following.
Since then, these walls have been regularly painted by TMD and the wider graffiti scene, with regular battles held on-site each year. With the support of past Corban Estate Director Martin Sutcliffe, the walls have remained an important West Auckland landmark for emerging and established graffiti writers to express themselves.
The designated sites for public graffiti are located on the upper and lower walls only. This does not include the back of the walls on the driveway leading to the Corbans Homestead. Any graffiti painted on un-permitted areas will be buffed by the Waitakere Tag Out Trust immediately.
As there are very few legal walls in Auckland, please help us maintain this space by demonstrating mahi kotahitanga (co-operation/unity). If you are questioned by anybody while painting, please refer them to this information.