Visible Ink

Visible Ink is a veritable smorgesboard for creative folk in Brisbane. Set up an office space, participate in community-​based workshops, borrow equipment, make use of the rehearsal room, or even make and distribute your own zine. This is a space for young people (under 26) and gives often marginalised young people a chance to express themselves in ways they wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to. There are five Visible Ink spaces across Brisbane, however, this review is for the Fortitude Valley space.
I was lucky enough to be a part of the 2010 Visible Ink Incubator program and was able to make friends and work with young people in our community doing everything from animation to music composition to film production. Perhaps the best thing has been seeing these friends use Visible Ink as a spring board to bigger and better projects and opportunities — which I guess is what is at the heart of what Visible Ink do.
Tenants and Incubators can take advantage of the knowledge of staff across all facets of setting up a business, organising an event (however big the scale) and feel empowered to bring their ideas (within reason) to life.

Sometimes I find that people often feel that taking the creative path is a hard one. Indeed, it can at times be a case of Struggle Street: population 1. But never fear, Visible Ink is here to help. It turns out the government IS there for the people often in ways you wouldn’t even expect.
Visible Ink is a government branch set up to help Brisbane youth (between 12– 26) with their creative pursuits. It doesn’t matter what branch of creativity you work under, Visible Ink has space and facilities that are useful to pretty much everybody. They have rehearsal spaces, an art room, photocopiers, free access to internet and computers and office space for meetings and workshopping. The fine folk at Visible Ink often have a hand in local events around town. One such event was this year’s Valley Fiesta, where Visible Ink had a stage where musicians who regularly use the facilities could perform.
The staff at Visible Ink are great to chat with about your plans– they’re masters at giving out practical and useful advice and thinking about your plans in ways you’d never imagined. To use office space and facilities, you do have to fill out an application form that will often take 3 – 4 weeks to be processed, where you have to site why you want to use the space (FYI: it’s ok for you to use the space for non commercial ventures as well).
If you’re between 12 – 26 and want some help in setting up your creative venture, maybe you should stroll on down to Visible Ink in Greensquare Close, Fortitude Valley.

As a past incubator of Visible Ink, I am in debt to this place. I honestly don’t know what my path would have been had I not applied for a tenancy space when I graduated from the Griffith Film School.
Back then, Visible Ink was set up on Berwick Street in the Valley but they’ve since upgraded to newer facilities at Greenclose Square.
Visible Ink is an initiative of the Brisbane City Council and Yes Brisbane. Their support is not just limited to free tenancy and office equipment. Their staff are practical mentors teaching the tenants about business management, event organisation, grant writing and arts education. In fact, the skies the limit to their support. During my tenancy, I could have gone up to the staff and told them I wanted to run a one week circus workshop training disadvantaged kids to become elephant whisperers. Their reply would have been, ‘Did you first do up a health and safety report on how to manage elephants?‘
If you miss out on a tenancy, don’t be sad. There may still be a place for your project at Visible Ink so long as you’re project is non-​commercial. (They do accept commercial projects but it may incur a fee). Also, your project does not necessarily have to be art focused. Social innovators and not-​for-​profit organisations are especially welcome here.
So if you’re between 18 to 26 and you have an idea for a project, head down toe Visible Ink to see if they can help.