The centre, which is held in trust for the people of Canterbury and its visitors, has been undergoing a large restoration since it was badly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

[6] In 2009 strong debate emerged over a proposal to use The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora car park located off Hereford Street for the University of Canterbury's School of Music.

Proponents valued the additional vibrancy that this would bring into the Cultural Precinct, and supported the university moving back to their original site.

[7][8][9] Ultimately the proposal was abandoned after a successful campaign by Save our Arts Centre, a group led by Richard Sinke.

The then Arts Centre director Ken Franklin commented that prior measures taken to reinforce the buildings may have prevented additional damage.

[13] It was initially estimated the cost to repair The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora would be NZ$100m.

[15] Under Lovatt's guidance, the programme was accelerated although with the scope becoming better known, the costs escalated to NZ$290m making it one of the largest heritage restoration projects in the world.

The restored Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora buildings are home to museums, including Rutherford's Den, where the father of nuclear physics Ernest, Lord Rutherford studied while at Canterbury College and the University of Canterbury's Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, as well as boutique art galleries, eateries, retailers and offices.

The centre also hosts many special arts and cultural events, including a weekly market, and it has beautiful buildings and rooms available to hire.

The Christchurch Arts Centre Association Incorporated was created in 1974, when the University of Canterbury completed its move to its new Ilam campus.