Uxbridge Creative Centre

The Uxbridge Centre was founded at 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick in 1981, when the former Howick Borough Council purchased the Uxbridge Presbyterian Church and associated buildings.

The Council facilitated the establishment of the Uxbridge Community Projects, an incorporated society, to operate the facilities for the community, providing arts and cultural activities.

By the time Howick Borough Council was amalgamated into Manukau City in 1990, the Uxbridge Centre had established a strong base in Howick. It had earned a reputation nationally as a model of excellence.

Uxbridge was the first to negotiate a performance-based service contract with Manukau City Council. Today Council still owns the buildings and continues to fund the Centre on an annual basis.

In 1994 the organisation re-structured into a business model with the voluntary management committee transformed into a Governing Board, elected by members annually.

Uxbridge now attracts more than 50,000 visitors annually to its programmes and events. As Howick’s Creative Centre, its goals are:

• To enrich the community through arts, cultural and lifestyle activities
• To be recognised as a leading arts and cultural facility
• To achieve the highest standards of efficiency and effectiveness.