We're very lucky here in Christchurch to have such a fabulous central venue for A Craft Affair. While it might get a bit crowded (okay, a lot crowded) during the fair, Sarah and Fiona at Our City O-Tautahi bend over backwards to accommodate A Craft Affair, and the event just wouldn't happen without them.
Located on the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Oxford Terrace, Our City O-Tautahi is a gorgeous building with a long history. In 1851 the site housed the newly built Land Office, and it was from here that the European settlement of Christchurch began.
The building as we know it today was designed by Samuel Hurst Seager in response to a competition in 1885 for the design of new Municipal Chambers. His motto for his submission was "Design with Beauty: Build with Truth" – I think this makes Our City a particularly fitting venue for crafty events.
Since it opened as the Municipal Chambers in 1887, it has functioned as the centre of local government, and later as the Christchurch Information Centre, which many Cantabrians still remember it as. In 2002 it was officially opened as Our City O-Tautahi and now provides a space for the people of Christchurch to meet to present and exchange ideas and knowledge about the city, as well as celebrate its life, colour and creativity.
So as you browse the array of handmade goodies on offer at A Craft Affair, take a moment to look around and absorb a little Christchurch history!
I'd have to agree that the building is packed to the rafters during the fair. Although a larger venue would let us all spread out, Our City Otautahi certainly is very central and a beautiful venue.
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