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 will be closed for the Christmas Break and will not be available for bookings or drop ins from the Friday 20 December 2024 to Tuesday 7 January 2025. Equipment will not be available from the 11 December 2024 until the 7 of January 2025. We will not be able to process any booking requests during this closure time.
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 Enterprise Program offers 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.
Grant Writing
Staff can help you to plan and apply for grant funding, including scoping suitable funding options and planning for a strong application.
Enterprise
Make an appointment with staff to discuss how to develop your start-up business, not-for-profit, or business project, and set professional project goals.
Event Management
Chat with us about opportunities to collaborate, utilize Visible Ink’s resources and develop your skills and experience in running an event.
Creative Development
Visible Ink’s facilities and resources are free to use for emerging creatives seeking space and support to develop your professional practice.
Emerging Visual Artists
We have programs and spaces available offering support and advice to young artists, to help develop your practice and build capacity to exhibit your work.
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.