Putting the life back into one of Wanganui's heritage buildings in the Old Town are Wanganui glass artists, Karen Ellett, Lyndsay Patterson and Katie Brown.
The trio have built their own hot glass studio/gallery in the former Chronicle newspaper building's press pit in Rutland St, which tonight will be officially opened as the Chronicle Glass Studio/Gallery.
Since graduating from Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic (now Wanganui Ucol) Glass Diploma and BFA courses they have have became internationally and nationally recognised. Recently they were commissioned by Wanganui Chamber of Commerce to make the Wanganui Business Awards.
All three moved to Wanganui to specifically study hot glass. Wanganui has the only hot glass school in New Zealand and is becoming known as the glass centre of New Zealand.
Mr Patterson, who worked in the banking industry for 15 years before becoming a glass artist, said: "Graduates are sticking around because not only is Wanganui a fantastic place to live, but they also see it as an economically viable place to open a studio and put into practice what they studied.
"Also the support network this has created among the already practicing glass artists and the success they have shows students that there is a very real and attainable career as a glass artist when they graduate."
Finding the capital to start their venture also saw the trio come up with a creative proposal put to family, friends and associates. For an investment of $2000 each person gets an annual choice of limited edition glass work worth $500 for four years or attendance at glass blowing workshops.
The venture also has earned praise from Jeff Smith of Enterprise Wanganui who said the three had "put together a good business plan and taken their time to ensure the concept is right."
To date all but several of their investment packages have been taken up.
People interested in the proposal can contact Ms Brown on 027 482 9944.
The gallery area will be open to the public from February 21 Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 4pm. However, the rest of the working facilities will not be completed until mid-April.
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