Maker Entrepreneurship Program
You’ve mastered your craft, now master your business with free skills training through the Maker Entrepreneurship Program.
About the Maker Entrepreneurship Program
Your business is what you make it. Take your maker business to the next level and access expert support in a range of key business topics with the Maker Entrepreneurship Program.
Council’s fully subsidised Maker Entrepreneurship Program supports independent, artisan and bespoke creators. This includes artists, designers, jewellers and woodworkers. It offers knowledge and skills training to makers in Brisbane to grow sustainable creative businesses.
The program has been running since 2020 to support the growth of Brisbane’s maker economy.
The 2026 program is now open for applications.
Benefits
The Maker Entrepreneurship Program helps you gain skills in:
- business planning and goal setting
- essential finance concepts, practical bookkeeping systems and financial templates
- properly styling and photographing your creations
- marketing your products
- building lasting customer relationships
- identifying opportunities to grow your business.
2026 program
The 2026 Maker Entrepreneurship Program is scheduled to run from 18 February to 28 March 2026.
The program features 4 business development workshops and one product photography workshop. It will be held in-person at Council’s Suburban Business Hub, Nundah.
Applicants can choose to attend on either Wednesdays or Saturdays. Sessions are currently scheduled to take place between 9am and 3pm on the following dates.
| Wednesday dates | Saturday dates |
|---|---|
|
18 February 2026 25 February 2026 4 March 2026 11 March 2026 |
21 February 2026 28 February 2026 7 March 2026 14 March 2026 |
The 2026 program features expert-led workshops delivered by 2 experienced providers:
- artisan: Queensland’s peak body for contemporary craft and design, delivering 4 business development workshops. artisan supports the diverse maker economy by driving innovation, connection and sustainable growth. Their programs create pathways for local to international display, enhance skills through residencies, masterclasses and workshops, and foster cultural tourism and retail innovation.
- Debi Brett Photography: Delivering a product photography workshop focused on storytelling photography. Debi Brett began her career in interior design and reignited her passion for photography to work with makers and eco-conscious businesses. She has grown her business to offer workshops and online resources that help entrepreneurs gain visual visibility and authentically showcase their values, passion and vision.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply for the Maker Entrepreneurship Program, you must:
- be an existing maker business that sells handmade products, has stock on hand and an online presence
- be able to dedicate approximately 30 hours of your time to the program over its duration
- have a current and active ABN or ACN
- be located within the Brisbane Local Government Area.
How to apply
Find information about the Maker Entrepreneurship Program application process.
You can apply for the 2026 program by completing the expression of interest form.
Applications close Sunday 23 November.
We will review your form and contact you for the next steps.
If eligible, you'll be asked to complete a more detailed application form.
Successful applicants for the Maker Entrepreneurship Program will be contacted in December.
More information
For more information about Council’s support for makers:
- call our Business Hotline on 133 263
- subscribe to Business in Brisbane.
Helpful links
Frequently asked questions
The Maker Entrepreneurship Program is a fully subsidised program, which means it’s free for all participants.
Yes, you can participate in the Maker Entrepreneurship Program if you have an established business. To be eligible to apply for the program, you must already sell handmade products to the public, with stock on hand and an online presence.
To participate in the program the business must be based within the Brisbane Local Government Area. This means you must either have a dedicated business address within Brisbane, or must live in the Brisbane local government area if you are a home-based business.
Council offers ongoing support and services to businesses in Brisbane. This includes our dedicated Business Hotline, skills workshops and networking events. Find more information about support for local businesses.
You can participate in the Maker Entrepreneurship Program and maintain a full-time job. There are multiple attendance offerings that you can select in your application. This ensures you can attend all sessions.
A maker is someone who creates a tangible item either by design or fabrication. This includes artists, sewers, printers, potters, metalsmiths, jewellers, woodworkers and designers.