Growing Brisbane's maker economy
Brisbane City Council aims to inspire entrepreneurship at the local community level to elevate the independent, artisan and bespoke to grow Brisbane’s maker economy. Find out about the opportunities for support to start a maker-micro-business and connect with other maker businesses.
Maker Entrepreneurship Program
In partnership with BrisStyle Inc, Council ran its first Maker Entrepreneurship Program in 2020 to provide micro-business training to adults with existing creative skills to establish a market stall, start an online business and pursue other avenues to sell their creations.
A maker is one who creates a tangible item either by design or fabrication. For example, artists, sewers, printers, potters, metalsmiths, jewellers, woodworkers, designers and more. This program aims to help emerging makers monetise their work by selling their creations, and become maker-micro-businesses, which are often businesses of one, operating from home and selling at markets and online.
2020 program graduates
During the 16-week program emerging business owners were mentored and developed the skills, tools and resources they needed to establish and maintain their emerging creative business and start their own online Etsy shops and participate in local market events boosting the local creative economy. The participants and their products are as follows:
| Maker | Etsy shop | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Corinna Van Brakel | Pleasant Mill | Beauty products (soap, aromatherapy etc.) |
| Amy Dietrich | The Green Bug by Amy | Homewares, beauty products (soap, aromatherapy etc.), produce bags, bento bags and reusable cutlery sets |
| Jodie Dix | Jessie May Style | Art and homewares |
| Anna Jacobson | Cards and Treasure | Paper goods, papercraft and art |
| Beatrice Schneider | Arctic Pearl Atelier | Jewellery, knitted beanies and bags |
| Imogen White | Sol Threads | Embroidery art and embroidered products (pencil cases, book covers) |
| Diana Bridge | Lulu Studio Store | Homewares and printed fabrics |
| Kari Steele | Kari Creative | Street style art for the home |
| Melinda Gagen | 95 Degrees Shop | Jewellery |
| Carolina Gadsby | Soul Colours Art | Art and clothing |
| Monica Pompei | Peica Paper Art | Paper goods, papercraft and jewellery |
Future programs
If you would like to be advised when the next Maker Entrepreneurship Program opens for applications fill in the online form.