The Curious Kookaburra has flown into the Star Court Arcade, making a new crafty space for community creators.

According to shop owner Rebecca Ryan, her new Curious Kookaburra Creatory might generate a lot of fun and laughter - but it’s a serious business.

Rebecca recently opened the Creatory after a huge response from locals who loved her creative and artistic workshops. She said the new arcade space can be used by people in the community who want to run their own small gatherings and workshops.

The Curious Kookaburra Creatory is Rebecca’s second business in Lismore. Last October, she opened The Curious Kookaburra on Keen Street - selling all things hand-made by local craftspeople.

Read more: The Curious Kookaburra shop flies into the CBD

Above: Rebecca Ryan in the Curious Kookaburra Keen Street shop. Below: The new Curious Kookaburra Creatory space.

“Last year, I knew business would be slow because of Covid and travel restrictions,” Rebecca said, “So to keep things busy, I started running crafting workshops in the small Keen Street shop. 

“They were so popular, I was coming in on my days off to rearrange the shop and set up for them. 

“I saw there was enough demand for workshops, so I needed a space that could be used for creating all the time.

"When I found the new arcade shop space with its natural light and floor tiles, I knew it as perfect for doing creative things”

“Now, I have social groups who meet there and people hire it for private creative functions - and their own workshops. 

“Someone recently had a crafternoon high tea birthday party and this week a class started there teaching Japanese lessons.”

Rebecca said the new space is just another way she can support the local community to be creative.

“Being creative is my passion,” she said. “I’ve been sewing since I was a kid and I’ve done loom weaving, basket weaving, photography, leather work, ceramics and mixed media collaging.

“When I opened the Curious Kookaburra shop, it was all about supporting creative makers to get their stuff out in the community - and share their talent with other people.

“It was a natural progression to start running workshops - and the new space encourages everyone to be creative.”

Rebecca said this weekend, she will be running her own workshop in the Creatory, showing people how to make a fabric satchel bag.

“Recently, someone held a leather gemstone pendant making workshop and the next leather work workshop is already booked out,” she said.

If you would like to rent out the Curious Kookaburra Creatory space at 15 Star Court Arcade, you can rent it by the hour or on a regular basis. 

For more information, visit the Curious Kookaburra Creatory Facebook page or phone Rebecca Ryan on 0408 478 253.