ACT Fire & Rescue was called to a fire at Gorman House, on Ainslie Avenue, just after 4.30am on Monday.

Multiple fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze, finding two external doors had been set alight.

Gorman House, the home of Gorman Arts Centre, opened in 1925 as a hostel for young public servants and has operated as an arts hub since 1981.

Director Joseph Falsone confirmed no artwork had been damaged in the blaze, and no one was at Gorman House at the time.

"It's a relief that nothing major happened and no one was hurt," he said.

Small fires on two external doors were put out before they could spread to the rest of the buildings, the centre said in a statement on Monday morning.

"Although smoke entered and ventilation of the corridors was required."

"The motive appears to have been vandalism rather than an attempt to enter the premises."

A spokeswoman for ACT Policing confirmed officers were now investigating the fire.

On Monday, it was business as usual at Gorman House, with resident artists able to attend their offices and exhibitions continuing as normal.

Mr Falsone said, while the centre had seen one or two small acts of vandalism over the years, this was the first time a fire had started.

The centre praised the quick work of fire crews and would work with artsACT to repair the doors as soon as possible so the building could be secured overnight.