ARTIST Kate Shelton, the co-owner of historic Benedict House, is temporarily back in Queanbeyan from Melbourne to initiate some creative solutions to open Benedict House to the public once again
After being privately rented out for two years and the café closing, the House, once a hub of creative arts across the border, is looking for innovative ways of using the building as a residence and business hub, although the impecunious arts community wishes the City Council would buy it as a cultural centre.
Shelton tells “CityNews” she is initiating a search for carefully selected residents to share the upstairs accommodation. There will be an opportunity for those residents to use the downstairs rooms for business, turning the former convent into a ‘think tank’ of co-living upstairs, with a business opportunity downstairs.
It should appeal to entrepreneurs with skills in sustainability, hospitality and tourism, arts and media, Shelton says, adding that she hopes some spaces downstairs may be available for community use.
Individuals or couples will pay for a private room upstairs and will have access to ‘public’ spaces downstairs for hosting events, training, workshops, and possible café and exhibition space.
Kate Shelton may be contacted at katebenedicthouse@gmail.com or 0400 122 868.
Who can be trusted?
In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.
If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.
Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.
Thank you,
Ian Meikle, editor
Leave a Reply