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Sister Cities Art
Description
NameSister Cities ArtDescriptionThe Selwyn District has sister relationships with a number of cities around the world, including in China and Japan. Our special relationship with these places is represented by the gifted artworks on display at the Selwyn District Council's main office in Rolleston, and at the Darfield Library*. These include ceramics, textiles, carvings, paintings, and tapestries.
In 2009 an historic connection was formally verified with the signing of a sister-city agreement between Shandan County and the Selwyn District. This formal relationship serves to foster cultural interaction between the two regions initially linked by a common association through Springfield-born writer and political activist Rewi Alley. Alley (born 1897), through his literary writings on Chinese industry and communist philosophy, became an icon in the Shandan County, Gansu Province, China where he lived for 60 years. While he was there Alley built up a collection of Chinese pottery and art works. 1,378 objects from Alley's collection are now cared for by the Canterbury Museum.
The sister cities include:
Yubetsu-cho, Hokkaido, Japan
Akitakata-shi, Hiroshima, Japan
Shandan County Government - Gansu Province - China
Coventry, Rhode Island, USA
White Mountains (New Hampshire).
*Please note, the mask and kimono that were on display at the Darfield Library are currently being rested for conservation purposes.
In 2009 an historic connection was formally verified with the signing of a sister-city agreement between Shandan County and the Selwyn District. This formal relationship serves to foster cultural interaction between the two regions initially linked by a common association through Springfield-born writer and political activist Rewi Alley. Alley (born 1897), through his literary writings on Chinese industry and communist philosophy, became an icon in the Shandan County, Gansu Province, China where he lived for 60 years. While he was there Alley built up a collection of Chinese pottery and art works. 1,378 objects from Alley's collection are now cared for by the Canterbury Museum.
The sister cities include:
Yubetsu-cho, Hokkaido, Japan
Akitakata-shi, Hiroshima, Japan
Shandan County Government - Gansu Province - China
Coventry, Rhode Island, USA
White Mountains (New Hampshire).
*Please note, the mask and kimono that were on display at the Darfield Library are currently being rested for conservation purposes.
Connections
CollectionArt in our CommunityPersonRewi Alley
More InformationSelwyn District Council: Sister Cities
Rewi Alley Art Collection
More InformationSelwyn District Council: Sister Cities
Rewi Alley Art Collection
Sister Cities Art. Selwyn Stories, accessed 05/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/4468




