Visitors will be able to glimpse inside newly renovated rooms within the main house which have been reimagined as exhibition spaces. They feature a mix of work from more than 20 artists - many of them locals - including Julie Ryder, Margaret Hadfield, Matthew Curtis and Harriet Schwarzrock.

The art spaces have been curated by Ben Chapman of the Lost and Found Office. He and Bobby Cerini also have a workshop onsite where they run their design business.

"It's not a standard gallery exhibition space by any means but it is a very interesting building full of inherent character," Mr Chapman said of the challenge of curating different mediums and artists.

"What we've tried to do is just focus on some of the local artists, makers, designers and show them off within the spaces in ways that complement the rooms."

Tim Keeble and Dennis Mortimer, formerly of the Artists Shed on Foster St, have been able to find a new home at Benedict House after the venue was recently put on the market.

Mr Keeble will run a music room and performance space in the former beads shop area.

He has organised for multi-instrumentalist Dave O'Neill to play a concert on Saturday night.

"The Artists Shed has a long history of staging live performance and music in unusual spaces, so Benedict House is a great new venue to add to the opportunities now available for musicians performing in the region," Mr Keeble said.

Mr Mortimer will be in charge of an art studio and workshop space which will be open to the public on Saturday with a number of free demonstrations including a portraiture and an ink and wash session.

Other activities on the day include tours through the historic buildings, lamp making/upholstery/furniture restoration demonstrations, acoustic music and an artist talk by furniture craftsman Evan Dunston. The Refectory Cafe will also be open all day.

The Benedict Arts Precinct signals a new chapter for Benedict House whose current custodians is couple Rory and Jessica Markham.

"We wanted to create a new experience for visitors to the region, combining great food, historic ambience and exciting art and design, all set within the building and grounds of this spectacular former convent," Mrs Markham said.

The official opening of the Benedict Arts Precinct will be this Saturday, September 13 from 10am until late.