Visible Ink Youth Hub is a free and central hub for Brisbane’s young people to explore new ideas, access resources, have a say and connect with community partners, enabling them to grow as active citizens and contribute to a better Brisbane.
Visible Ink Youth Hub provides:
spaces to rehearse, hold meetings, plan, organise and deliver projects and events and access youth networks
resources to help get your ideas off the ground and staff support to provide you with help and information
the Enterprise Program – a youth enterprise program providing support and resources to young people to help get their ideas off the ground
Art Space, Zine Library, Maker space and Media Studio.
Visible Ink is a Brisbane City Council program which offers free space, resources, and staff support to young people aged 12-25.
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 cost. 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 weren’t possible for most young people. As a 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 success with over 16,000 young people through the door each year. So Visible Ink had to move in 2005 to a larger facility on Berwick Street and began including more services for young people such as enterprise support for young businesses.
Every year more and more people heard about the space, and it continued to grow and 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-based 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 a year a safe and secure location to rehearse, meet, create, record, make, build and design anything their heart desires.
TYPES OF SUPPORT
| Music Production
Emerging musicians and producers can access the studio and staff support to navigate the industry and collaborate with collective creatives. |
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| Grant Writing
Staff can help to plan for and apply for funding including finding the right fit and planning for a strong application. |
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| Enterprise
Make an appointment to discuss how to develop a startup, a not for profit, a project and setting professional goals. |
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Outside of the Visible Ink space, Council’s Youth Development team work across the Brisbane regions 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.