The Arts House Trust is one of the country’s largest collections of New Zealand art with approximately 10,000 works held. It is an independent charitable entity which supports and promotes contemporary art and artists in Aotearoa New Zealand and cares for and provides public access to its collection. The Arts House Trust is among the largest facilitators of art loans to institutions and organisations for public display.

The Collection is housed at Pah Homestead, built in 1879. Designed in an Italianate style, it was hailed as the finest house in the Auckland Province when completed. The grounds include some of the oldest and largest examples of exotic trees in New Zealand and boasts views to the Manukau Harbour and One Tree Hill.

At various times it has served as an orphanage, novitiate house, boarding school and emergency housing. Auckland Council extensively restored and adapted the building prior to its opening as an arts centre. Today, it remains largely as it was built, with almost all of its original door and window joinery, elaborate ceiling roses, parquet floors and marble fireplaces intact.