The Christchurch Arts Centre will gain a new arts collection to exhibit as part of a deal with the University of Canterbury

The varsity will lease the Chemistry Building for the next eight years where it'll base its classics and music departments.

Arts Centre CEO Andre Lovett says the University is bringing with them the James Logie Memorial collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.

"That's going to be available for public exhibition. It's a collection which was gifted to the university for academic and teaching reasons.

"The university as part of this arrangement will make provisions for that to be on display."

Students are expected to be in the building by 2016.