Corban Estate Arts Centre Explained

Corban Estate Arts Centre
Address:	2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson, Auckland 0612
Built:	1903
Opened:	2002

Corban Estate Arts Centre is an arts precinct in West Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 2002 at the site of the Mt Lebanon Vineyard and Winery, the arts centre provides creative production, theatre and gallery space to New Zealand artists.

Facility

The Mt Lebanon Vineyard and Winery was established in 1902 by Assid Abraham Corban. The winery and cellar on the estate were built between 1903 and 1907, and the Corban Homestead, an Edwardian home, was constructed in 1923. The selling depot at the entrance of the site was constructed in 1913, during alcohol prohibition in New Zealand, as an area just outside of the Eden Electorate where alcohol could be purchased. The property was the headquarters for Corban Wines until 1977, when the company sold its interests.^[1]

In 1992, the Waitakere City Council purchased the site, subdividing three hectares and establishing the Corban Estate Arts Centre in 2002 on the remaining 6.7 hectare site.^[2]

St Michael's Church, a historic Henderson church built in 1914 on the opposite site of Great North Road, was relocated to the arts centre in 2008,^[1] and is now a hirable venue.

In July 2022, the Corban Winery and Mt Lebanon Vineyards were entered into the Heritage New Zealand list of category 1 historic places.^[2]

Resident artists, companies and regular events

• Atamira Dance Company, a Māori contemporary dance company.^[3]
• InterACT Disability Arts Festival
• Kākano Youth Arts Collective, who showcase art produced at the centre at the Kākano Art Gallery in Henderson.^[4]
• Pacifica Mamas, based at the Pacifica Arts Centre.^[5]
• Mind Over Matter, a charitable organisation focusing on building skills for neurodivergent teenagers through theatre.
• Red Leap Theatre, a theatre troupe who were established in 2010.
• Te Pou Theatre, a centre for Māori theatre, opened on 11 April 2015 in New Lynn,^[6] before relocating to Corban Estate in July 2018.^[7]
• Uhi Tapu, a tā moko studio run by Mokonuiarangi Smith^[8]
• Winter Best, a winter music festival first held in 2022.^[9]

Former artists, companies and festivals

• The Pacifica Living Arts Festival was a festival held annually at Corban Estate in November. The festival was held annually between 1995 and 2014.^{[10] [11]}
• The Waitemata Theatre were long-term residents at the arts centre, performing at the Cellar Theatre.^[12] In 2013, the company left the venue, merging with Titirangi Theatre.^[13]

External links

• Official Website

Notes and References

1. Book: Cameron . Ewen . Hayward . Bruce . Bruce Hayward . Murdoch . Graeme . A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage . 978-1-86962-1513 . Random House New Zealand . 2008 . 187 . Revised.
2. Corban Estate Findings Report Regional Services and Strategy . September 2022 . . 18 January 2023.
3. Web site: Atamira Dance Company. The Big Idea. en. 13 May 2020.
4. Web site: West Auckland youth showcase their creative skills as a guide to their business futures . Michael . Cugley . Te Rito . Cadet . 1 June 2022 . . 18 January 2023.
5. Web site: Foxcroft . Debrin . 2017-10-31 . Matriarchal artists bring the traditional arts of the Pacific to Aotearoa . 2022-03-04 . Stuff . en.
6. Book: Skelton . Carolyn . A Brief History of New Lynn: A West Auckland suburb . Auckland Libraries West Auckland Research Centre . . 2016 . 59.
7. Web site: Tuakiri About us . Te Pou Theatre . 18 January 2023.
8. Web site: Organisations Onsite . Corban Estate Arts Centre . 18 January 2023.
9. Web site: Auckland's music festival return was perfect – but why weren't more people there? . Chris . Schulz . 20 June 2022 . . 18 January 2023.
10. Web site: Pacifica turns 10 . . Scoop . 6 October 2005 . 18 January 2023.
11. Web site: Pacific Living Arts Festival, 2014 . Research West . Auckland Libraries . 18 January 2023.
12. Book: Jahn-Werner . Tara . The Children of Hauauru . 341, 355 . Macdonald . Finlay . Finlay Macdonald (editor) . Kerr . Ruth . West: The History of Waitakere . Random House . 2009 . 9781869790080.
13. Web site: About Titirangi Theatre . Titirangi Theatre . 18 January 2023.