About
About Visible Ink
Visible Ink Youth Hub is a Brisbane City Council program offering a free-to-use and centrally-located hub for Brisbane’s young people (aged 12-25) to explore new ideas, access resources, have a say on local issues and connect with community partners, enabling them to grow as active citizens and contribute to a better Brisbane.
Visible Ink Youth Hub provides:
- Bookable spaces to rehearse, hold meetings, plan, organise and deliver projects and events, and access youth networks.
- Fully-equipped creative spaces, including an Art Studio, a digital & print-media Maker Space, and a Media Studio for music, podcasting and audio-visual recording and editing.
- Resources and equipment for hire to help get your ideas off the ground, including staff support to provide you with help and information.
- The Copy & Destroy Zine Library, an archive of independent DIY print zines, featuring works from local artists and young people.
- Our Youth Development Sessions offer individually-catered support and resources to participants looking to start a business, or work professionally in their chosen creative field.
Visible Ink staff can support you with:
Music Production
Emerging musicians and producers can access Visible Ink’s Media Studio for free, receive staff support to help you better navigate the industry and collaborate with like-minded creatives.
Performance Opportunities
Visible Ink is supporting young and emerging artists to perform on the Main Stage of the Queen Street Mall for the Visible Ink Takeover events. These are taking place on the first Tuesday of each month during the lunchtime rush. These are paid opportunities for people looking to get more experience performing in public.
For applications, please follow this link!
Grant Writing
Staff can help you to plan and apply for grant funding, including scoping suitable funding options and planning for a strong application.
Creative Development
Visible Ink’s facilities and resources are free to use for emerging creatives seeking space and support to develop your professional practice.
Outside of the Visible Ink space, Council’s Youth Development Team work across the Greater Brisbane region to support young people in their local area and coordinate a range of programs for youth. You can find out more about these programs on Council’s website or by having a chat with our staff.
Would you like to be involved in Council’s youth development programs and events? Subscribe to our Youth Register to receive information about opportunities, workshops, events, and news.
OUR HISTORY
In 2001, Brisbane City Council developed a Youth Strategy to better support young people across the city. During consultation, young people said they wanted a space in a central location that was just for them, where they could rehearse, host events, run workshops and develop projects free of charge. They hoped that the space would provide opportunities to collaborate, make friends and meet like-minded people that shared their passions about things that were important to them. Eventually, no matter how supportive parents were, young people knew they would outgrow their living room or garage, but they needed a safe, practical and affordable space. Meeting at coffee shops to build a business, dancing in parklands at night, or finding the cash to hire rehearsal spaces in the CBD just wasn’t possible for most young people. The result of all this feedback was the creation of Council’s youth development hub, Visible Ink.
Visible Ink opened on the corner of Constance Street and Green Square Close in 2002, in what is fondly recalled as little more than a shed. It was named by young people who thought it reflected the self-initiating attitude of it’s founding members. The concept was simple – resource young people to become more visible in what they do across Brisbane – with a vision to change the way young people were perceived by the community, engaged with the city around them, and were celebrated for their contributions. The space was a huge success, with over 16,000 young people through the door each year. As a result, Visible Ink was moved to a larger facility on Berwick Street in 2005, and began including more services for young people, such as enterprise support for young businesses.
Every year, more and more young people heard about the space, and it continued to grow and grow, until a new space was again needed. Luckily, the original site on the corner of Constance Street and Green Square Close was available, so a design for a purpose-built creative space and an office large enough to house the whole Youth Development Team was created. Visible Ink moved back to its original site in 2011, celebrating 10 years, and offering over 25,000 young people per year a safe and secure location to rehearse, meet, create, record, make, build and design anything their heart desires.
Where is Visible Ink?
Visible Ink Youth Hub is located at 5 Green Square Close, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD 4006
Click here to find us on Google Maps!
We are a short walk away from the Fortitude Valley train station, on the corner of Constance St and Green Square Close.
We recommend travelling to the space via public transport, as street parking is very limited. Paid parking is also available in the nearby Valley Metro carpark.
If you are picking up or dropping off cumbersome equipment, call ahead on 3403 0136 to check if our loading bay is available.
Visible Ink is situated on the ground floor of the Maida Lilley Community Centre, which is part of the Sir Thomas Reginald Groom Place building. We share the Centre with other community services including Open Doors – supporting young members of the LGBTIQAP+ community, and HART 4000 – a homelessness support service.
Hours of Operation
Visible Ink’s staffed hours are:
Wednesday 2-8pm
Thursday 2-8pm
Friday 2-8pm
Saturday 12-5pm
During these times, the space is open for casual use, and our Maker Space (including printing) and Art Studio are available for all users without needing an appointment, so feel free to pop in!
Users also have the option to book our Rehearsal Space, Multi Space or Meeting Space, on any day of the week.
Booking times are 9am-12pm, 12-2pm, 2-4pm, 4-6pm, 6-8pm and 8-10pm.
For any bookings outside of our staffed hours, please note that you will need to collect an Access Card from the space during our staffed hours, prior to your booking.
If you are booking a space for the first time, you will also need to complete a short Induction with one of our staff, to provide you with all relevant safety and security information, as well as your rights and responsibilities when accessing the space.
Our Media Studio is also available to book, during our staffed hours only (see above).
Before requesting your first Media Studio booking, you will need to attend the space between 2-4pm on a Wednesday to complete a Studio Induction. Please let us know in advance if you are coming in for a Studio Induction.
Before submitting your booking request, please review our updated Child Safety Policy to ensure the time you select is appropriate for your group’s age range.
Visible Ink is committed to child safety and wellbeing. Children and young people have the right to feel safe, be heard, and be respected. Concerns can be raised at any time and will be taken seriously. To ensure the safety and comfort of everyone accessing Visible Ink, there may be additional requirements for groups booking the space after-hours as part of the Queensland Government’s Child Safe Standards and Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, including the consideration of the hirer and any facilitators requiring a Blue Card
- Groups who have participants under the age of 18 years are not permitted to make after-hours bookings UNLESS the Hirer can supply their Blue Card for Working with Children. Otherwise, if anyone in your group is under 18 years of age you will be required to book Visible Ink’s spaces during staffed hours only.
- It is the Hirer’s responsibility to ensure their group’s compliance with current Child Safety legislation where applicable, including ensuring that relevant group members hold valid Blue Cards. Visible Ink does not assess or verify Blue Card requirements as part of the booking process. If you are unsure of these requirements, please seek legal advice or follow the link below:
-
https://www.qld.gov.au/law/laws-regulated-industries-and-accountability/queensland-laws-and-regulations/regulated-industries-and-licensing/blue-card/required
- Groups containing members who are 26 years of age or older are not permitted to access Visible Ink for after-hours bookings. If you and the majority of your group are aged 12-25, but some individuals aged 26 or over are included, you will be required to book Visible Ink’s spaces during staffed hours only.
Please submit all booking requests via our bookings page!
Visible Ink will be closed for casual use on public holidays. The space may still be available to book during these times, please contact us for more information.
Council encourages all residents to continue to practice safe social distancing and hygiene while using Council facilities. For more information, please visit Council’s website or phone Council on 07 3403 8888.
Rights and Responsibilities
A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE/SPACE | THE LOW DOWN | WHAT TO EXPECT | ALL THE OTHER STUFF
We ask that when you access Visible Ink, you do so respectfully, towards both the physical space and other young people accessing it, as well as our staff.
Visible Ink is committed to child safety and wellbeing. Children and young people have the right to feel safe, be heard, and be respected. Concerns can be raised at any time and will be taken seriously. To ensure the safety and comfort of everyone accessing Visible Ink, there may be additional requirements for groups booking the space after-hours as part of the Queensland Government’s Child Safe Standards and Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, including the consideration of the hirer and any facilitators requiring a Blue Card
- Groups who have participants under the age of 18 years are not permitted to make after-hours bookings UNLESS the Hirer can supply their Blue Card for Working with Children. Otherwise, if anyone in your group is under 18 years of age you will be required to book Visible Ink’s spaces during staffed hours only.
- It is the Hirer’s responsibility to ensure their group’s compliance with current Child Safety legislation where applicable, including ensuring that relevant group members hold valid Blue Cards. Visible Ink does not assess or verify Blue Card requirements as part of the booking process. If you are unsure of these requirements, please seek legal advice or follow the link below:
-
https://www.qld.gov.au/law/laws-regulated-industries-and-accountability/queensland-laws-and-regulations/regulated-industries-and-licensing/blue-card/required
- Groups containing members who are 26 years of age or older are not permitted to access Visible Ink for after-hours bookings. If you and the majority of your group are aged 12-25, but some individuals aged 26 or over are included, you will be required to book Visible Ink’s spaces during staffed hours only.
When accessing Visible Ink, young people have the responsibility to:
- Provide information about their needs and any support needed from staff.
- Respect other young people and staff’s privacy, personal space, rights, and worth.
- Accept the consequences of their actions and any decisions made.
- Not discriminate against other young people or staff on the grounds of sex, race, culture, ability, language, religion, marital status or sexual preference.
- Adhere to the principles and guidelines of Visible Ink regarding respecting the space, equipment and safety of all people within the space.
- Remember that Visible Ink is a smoking, drug and alcohol free space.
- Participate in relevant decision-making around services, activities or the level of participation they wish to access.
- Create and/or view media content responsibly and with respect, especially using internet facilities legally.
- Express any feedback or grievances with staff clearly and calmly, whether via email, phone or in person.
Young people accessing Visible Ink have the right to:
- Access free resources and the space, and receive assistance from staff that is supportive and flexible to their needs.
- Be respected by other young people and staff in the space.
- Not be discriminated against by other young people or staff within the space based on the grounds of sex, race, culture, ability, language, religion, marital status or sexual preference.
- Privacy and confidentiality with the ability to approve any sharing of information with other services as needed.
- Refuse any services or activities suggested by staff, and are able to leave the space at any time.
- Give feedback or express any grievances calmly without it affecting their assistance received.
Visible Ink staff have a responsibility to ensure young people feel safe, included and supported within the space at all times. It can be a bit hectic sometimes, so to do this we ask that you help us out by:
- Using respectful language at all times.
- Not entering the staff office unless you have been invited in.
- Organising days or times for additional support that you might need with making or creating, so we can have the staff available to help.
- Looking after the space by cleaning up after yourself, accessing your bookings on time, and being respectful of the equipment at Visible Ink.
Spaces
Spaces | Booking Form
“I love Visible Ink. I can just come here and teach myself new things because I have nothing to lose.”
– Nikki
Bookings for Rooms and Equipment are taken through online booking forms, but if you have any questions feel free to have a chat with us. Outside of our opening hours you will need to have an access card to get into the space, details about this will be included in your booking confirmation, so please read them carefully.
Please be aware that Visible Ink isn’t staffed Sunday-Tuesday so please allow enough time for your booking to be processed if you want to access the space on those days.
REHEARSAL SPACE: A 50 square-metre multi-purpose space with timber floors, full length curtains, and floor-to-ceiling mirrors for rehearsals. The room is fully air-conditioned, with access to a projector, screen, sound system and free WiFi. Also contains seating for up to 65 people, and can be used as a film screening or performance venue (staff can even set up a small stage for you if you’d like!).
MULTI SPACE: A dual purpose rehearsal and meeting space with timber floors, a mirrored wall and good natural light (or complete darkness via blinds). This room can seat 20 people at foldaway tables and also has a projector, sound system, whiteboard and free WiFi access.
MEETING ROOM: Suitable for small group meetings or activities, fits 8 comfortably. This room has WiFi access.
MEDIA STUDIO:
The Visible Ink Media Studio is a free facility providing access to professional equipment and software for young people with a basic knowledge of Audio Production and Film Editing Software. You must attend an Induction Session before booking this studio, to book your Induction click here, tell us what you want to use the space for and we will reply with an invitation to the next Induction Session. Please join us every Wednesday afternoon from 4pm to 8pm for regular music activities!
This Studio features professional audio and graphic design tools including:
- Audio Software: GarageBand, Ableton Live & Audacity
- Film Software: Adobe Premier Pro and Creative Suite for Graphic Design and Film editing
- Hardware: iMac with Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Interface, Rode NT2-A Microphone, KRK Rokit 8 Monitors
CREATIVE SPACE: Stocked with visual arts supplies from paint to pastel to plaster, this space is available during Visible Ink’s opening hours for you to come along and be creative. Anything made in the space is yours to take home, and it’s all free. We also host Art Sessions every Friday afternoon from 4pm to 6pm.
MAKER SPACE: Visible Ink provides free internet, computers and printing services for young people during our opening hours. We have a lot of young and emerging bands, zinesters and groups working on festivals, events and rallies that hang out in the Maker Space. It’s a great place to connect with other creatives and get inspired.
BREAKOUT SPACE/KITCHEN: We have an awesome lounge and kitchen area to chill out and relax in with free tea and coffee. It is stocked with crockery and utensils, we just ask that you clean up your mess and throw your stuff in the dishwasher.
COURTYARD: Our outdoor area is a nice place to relax, have some lunch and catch the breeze.
COPY & DESTROY ZINE LIBRARY: The zine library showcases our collection of zines, from current and past zine makers. We also have an archive of zines spanning the past decade, if you wanna have a blast from the past. Come in and have a browse!
Availability | Booking Form
Room Bookings - If you are having issues with this site try clearing your browser cache
Before submitting your booking request, please review our updated Child Safety Policy to ensure the time you select is appropriate for your group’s age range.
- Groups who have participants under the age of 18 years are not permitted to make after-hours bookings UNLESS the Hirer can supply the Visible Ink Coordinator with a photo/scan of their Blue Card for Working with Children. Otherwise, if anyone in your group is under 18 years of age, you will be required to book Visible Ink’s spaces during staffed hours only.
- It is the Hirer’s responsibility to ensure their group’s compliance with current Child Safety legislation where applicable, including ensuring that relevant group members hold valid Blue Cards. Visible Ink does not assess or verify Blue Card requirements as part of the booking process. If you are unsure of these requirements, please seek legal advice or follow the link below:
- Groups containing members who are 26 years of age or older are not permitted to access Visible Ink for after-hours bookings. If you and the majority of your group are aged 12-25, but some individuals aged 26 or over are included, you will be required to book Visible Ink’s spaces during staffed hours only.
Our Rehearsal Space, Multi Space and Meeting Room are available to book 7 days a week, from 9am – 12pm, 12pm – 2pm, 2pm – 4pm, 4pm – 6pm, 6pm – 8pm, or 8pm – 10pm. You can book a maximum of 10 bookings over a 5-week period, and we do not take bookings more than 10 weeks in advance.
Our Media Studio is available to book during staffed hours only: 2pm – 4pm, 4pm – 6pm or 6pm – 8pm Wednesday-Friday, and 12 – 2pm or 2pm – 4pm Saturday. You must complete a Media Studio Induction before booking the Studio for the first time, induction sessions are held 2pm – 4pm on Wednesdays (please note, no Media Studio bookings will be available during these hours to allow for inductions).
You can book up to 2 Peak and 3 Off-Peak blocks of bookings in one week. Peak times are weeknights from 6pm to 10pm, and all hours on the weekends. Off-Peak times are weekdays from 9am to 6pm.
Visible Ink is not staffed on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday so please be patient if we do not reply to your booking request immediately. We suggest you submit booking requests well in advance if you wish to book a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.
Enterprise
Brisbane's Creative Hubs | Enterprise Application
You can find out more about creative spaces across Brisbane from this neat little video from The Great Day Out which includes a tour through our space!
Brisbane's Creative Hubs
You can find out more about creative spaces across Brisbane from this neat little video from The Great Day Out which includes a tour through our space!
COPY + DESTROY
Visible Ink hosts the Copy + Destroy Zine Library, a collection of independent press covering nearly two decades of ideas from young artists and writers from across the country. It is an open access space to all young people during opening hours.
If you have never heard of a zine, welcome to a library filled with self-published limited-print independent press that covers everything from art, poetry, essays, activism, comic or stories. So come on into the space, chill out, leaf through the pages and get inspired.
COPY + DESTROY ZINE LIBRARY
Hosting a collection of zines from across the country and even a few international titles, feel free to pop in to explore this unique collection
Brisbane's Creative Hubs
You can find out more about creative spaces across Brisbane from this neat little video from The Great Day Out which includes a tour through our space!
Brisbane's Creative Hubs
You can find out more about creative spaces across Brisbane from this neat little video from The Great Day Out which includes a tour through our space!
It's what you make of it - Some Youth Led Initiatives
Resources
Free Equipment | Booking Form
Want to document an awesome project or capture your performance on film but don’t have the gear you need to do it… Just use ours! Visible Ink has a range of equipment to support young people to start their own business ventures and creative projects.
We currently have the following resources available:
- Yamaha Stage PA
- JBL Eon Portable PA
- Pioneer DJ Decks
- LEDGO Studio Lighting Kit
- White screen or Green screen backdrop with frame
- LED Stage Wash
- Spotlight and stand
- Microphones and stands
- Projectors
- DSLR Cameras with a variety of lenses
- Tripods
- GoPro Video Cameras (with optional helmet)
NOT FOR HIRE but can be used during opening hours:
- Lino printing resources
- Free WiFi and computer workstations with 10Mb upload capacity
- Photocopier, printer and scanner
- A3 Lightbox for artwork
- Brother SDX1000 ScanNCut DX
- Badge maker
Visible Ink has three badge makers that you’re welcome to use during our opening hours. If you’re planning on making more than a half dozen badges including large scale projects, you’ll need to supply your own badge parts. Our machines can produce three sizes – 25mm, 35mm, 57mm – for your projects. Parts can be ordered online, for an Australian supplier check Badge-A-Minit (they have all the sizes available for our machines).
We know, that’s a lot of stuff. So how do you get your hands on it? Easy send us an email or use this form and we’ll book some gear for you!
THE CATCH
We do have a few conditions: equipment loans are for one week at a time with pick up on a Friday and drop off on a Wednesday during opening hours. It does take a while to sign out our equipment, especially if you’re borrowing some of our larger systems, so please allow ample time to fill out some paperwork. If you haven’t used the equipment before, let our staff know when you book and we’ll give you some tips for how to set it up.
Book Equipment - If you are having issues with this site please clear your browser cache.
Printing | Printing Request Form
If you’ve got something to say or show, chances are you’ll need a way to get the word out. Visible Ink has facilities for limited run printing in colour and black & white.
Visible Ink is here to support young people to get their projects up, so if you’re publicising an event with posters or pamphlets, publishing a small press zine or putting a design onto a badge for your bands merch table, we can help get the ideas onto paper.
We’re not a print shop, and some limitations do apply, but we give you the opportunity to experiment with your design and get print-ready to take to commercial printer.
All printing can be done from our computers and printing services at the space during our opening hours to print: 50x A4 or 25x A3 Colour, 100x A4 or 50x A3 Black and White sheets.
For special requests or large scale projects, have a chat with our team about how we might be able to accommodate you in person.
Brisbane's Creative Hubs
You can find out more about creative spaces across Brisbane from this neat little video from The Great Day Out which includes a tour through our space!
3D Printer is currently out of order | Booking Form
Brisbane's Creative Hubs
You can find out more about creative spaces across Brisbane from this neat little video from The Great Day Out which includes a tour through our space!
Badge Makers
We have badge makers – 57mm – in the Creative Space available for use during our opening hours. You can test out a few ideas and get a feel for the machines.
If you’re planning on making more than half a dozen badges, including large scale projects, you’ll need to supply your own badge parts. Parts for these can be ordered online. For an Australian supplier check Badge-A-Minit.
Use our badge making tool to layout your designs onto a single printable PDF.
ZINE – /zi:n/ (pronounced zeen) [noun] informal – a magazine, especially a fanzine.
If you have never heard of a zine before, they are self-published limited-print independent press that cover everything from art, poetry, essays, activism, comics or stories.
A great way to share your stories, experiences or passions, Visible Ink have everything you need to make your own zines. Chat with our staff when you swing by and they’ll help you out.
Getting started with zines
Updates
We are now open on Saturdays from 12-5pm!
Young People
Young people defining Brisbane | Get Profiled
Submit Your Story
Are you doing inspiring things around Brisbane, or are you part of a group that’s going to take on the world? At Visible Ink we meet many dedicated, motivated and active young people who work hard to achieve some pretty massive goals. Tell us about your project so that we can help spread the word.
* Mandatory fields, the rest are optional.
Events
Youth Week at Visible Ink
You can find out more about creative spaces across Brisbane from this neat little video from The Great Day Out which includes a tour through our space!
Would you like to be involved in Council's youth development programs and events? Subscribe to our Youth Register to receive information about opportunities, workshops, events, and news.
FREE Funding Streams Workshop
A free workshop for emerging young entrepreneurs, start-ups, and groups wanting to generate funding streams on Wednesday March 2 from 10am to 3pm
About this event
Want to know how to strengthen your funding streams? This is a free workshop for emerging young entrepreneurs, organisations, start-ups and groups wanting to generate income through grants, sponsorships, memberships, crowdfunding and events to name a few. This is for young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years old and will be taking place at The Visible Ink Youth Hub with an online option.
Bookings Essential https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/revenue-streams-tickets-265648450667