The ACT Government and Geocon have signed contracts to bring the Kingston Arts Precinct to life, two years after Geocon won the tender for the project in 2017.
Minister for Urban Renewal, Rachel Stephen-Smith, said moving to the next stage of the project, community consultations and consultation with Geocon, artsACT and local art organisations, was an “exciting milestone”.
“Through the Suburban Land Agency and artsACT, we will work very closely with Geocon to ensure arts organisations, stakeholders and the community are provided the best possible opportunity to engage in the design process,” she said.
Minister for Arts and Cultural Events, Gordon Ramsay, said “the Kingston Arts Precinct will be home to some of Canberra’s leading arts organisations, with some organisations enjoying purpose-built facilities for the very first time”.
$50 million of the ACT Government’s $78 million budget for the project has been earmarked for purpose-built facilities for resident art organisations and accommodation for visiting artists.
Geocon has engaged architects Fender Katsalidis and Oculus to deliver the $750 million precinct, which will include retail space, restaurants, and commercial office space and luxury residential apartments.
According to managing director Nick Georgalis, the precinct is Geocon’s “most highly anticipated development”.
“I am pleased to report that the plans we will submit go above and beyond what anyone could have dreamt for this site,” Mr Georgalis said.
“It will become a world-famous visual arts hub, thrusting Canberra onto the international stage as a community which embraces and fosters culture, artists and vibrancy.”
The Kingston Art’s Precinct will include purpose-built artistic facilities as well as retail restaurant and office space and apartments. Artist’s impression.
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