News

A major anouncement [10.12.2008]

Today, Renew Newcastle is very pleased to announce that we have signed up our first major property partner, The GPT Group.

From GPT's media release today:

Revitalising Newcastle

The GPT Group announces its support of the Renew Newcastle project today in line with its commitment to revitalise the Newcastle CBD.

At 3pm today, GPT will handover the keys to the first of a series of buildings it owns, to be managed by the not-for-profit company Renew Newcastle, which has been established to find short and medium term creative, artistic and community uses for vacant buildings.

Renew Newcastle will today move in to the former chapel on Morgan Street, which it will use as a base as it continues to match artists and small businesses with vacant buildings within the CBD.

The GPT Group’s Newcastle CBD Development Manager David Sleet said Renew Newcastle provided an excellent medium for contributing to the revitalisation of the CBD while it goes through a transitional phase. We also see a similar range of activities continuing as an element of the re-developed centre.

“GPT owns a range of properties within the Newcastle CBD and it is important to us that these properties are utilised to the best of their ability as we continue with our plans for GPT’s Newcastle CBD retail project. We are also undertaking other activities to improve the ambience of the area, such as installing the Christmas decorations in the Mall and Market Square.

A series of vacant shops on the Hunter Street Mall are set to become galleries, exhibitions and retailers. GPT has also identified space in Market Square that could be used as studio space.

“We are currently working with Renew Newcastle to fill any vacant shops we own that are clean and meet necessary safety codes.

“Our hope is that artists can begin moving in before Christmas,” said Sleet.

Renew Newcastle are very pleased that GPT have offered us the use of their properties. They are one of the largest property owners in the city and their buildings alone will give us the capacity to place dozens exciting projects over the next few months - until their site is redeveloped in 2010.

GPT has also provided us with a building, a former Church in Morgan St from which we hope to be able to run our operations and (hopefully) even an Artists in Residence program in the new year.

While the support from GPT has been outstanding and vital to getting our project off the ground, Renew Newcastle is still keen to work with every other major and minor property owner in Newcastle who may have a space where we can place a project.

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