IMA is a good place to start if you're looking to learn an instrument. The location in Bowen Hills…read moreis just outside the city and convenient to get to. Parking can be a little bit of a nuisance, so keep your eye out for an on-street park. The teaching rooms are a good size and well equipped, and the teachers are knowledgeable. At a teaching organization like this one, the schedules are run pretty tightly and the teachers are essentially directed by the company so once your lesson time is up, you're out. It's a good place to learn the basics, but if you're after some more personal instruction, lessons with a private teacher could be better suited to you.

This is a great school. I went to this school when I was…read moregrowing up. Not sure if the same teachers are still there, but still an amazing school. Would recommend any parent to send there children to this school :) This school as grown and expanded over the years to accomadate the growing number of children. I hope this school continues to grow for many more yeaars to come.

Driving pass the Griffith Film School at night is like witnessing a cinematic set for a devil's…read moredinner party. The dramatic up-lighting emphasises the red stain glass which looks just like hell's hearth and dark shadows play dramatically across the window panes. By day it is just an educational institution, home to emerging filmmakers, game designers, animators and scriptwriters. The Griffith Film School boasts impressive facilities with its computer labs, editing facilities and film studios. Its new 92-seat cinema features a five metre screen, digital projection and Dolby 7.1 surround sound. It is a learning facility as well as being available to hire for private screening functions. Some of Australia's most respected filmmakers are amongst their Alumni including Peter and Michael Spierig, documentary filmmaker Peter Hegedus, scriptwriter Alice Addison and director Anthony Mullins. So if you fancy a career in filmmaking, you can't go wrong with a degree from this worthy institution.

The Film School (or GFS) is the hub for the filmmakers, animators and game designers of Griffith…read moreUniversity, the building is beautiful, the amenities are clean and kept and the facilities are second to none. As a third year film student I have had the privilege of meeting industry professionals and award winning creatives, I have learned the latest techniques on the most up to date software, I have had a chance to use some of the best and most recent cameras in the field and have had a blast doing it. The teaching staff are friendly and truly care about each student and each project as if it was their own. As a soon-to-be graduate I feel confident that I can leave this school with the skills I need and the knowledge to get me to where I want to go.

Brisbane Institute of Art is a not-for-profit community college with classes designed to suit all…read moreskill levels and lifestyles. They offer short courses over a weekend for people interested in learning the foundations of jewellery making, painting, ceramic or photography. There are also regular evening classes throughout the semester for those who prefer a structured framework to develop their skills. I've previously studied painting and ceramics here and found the tutors knowledgeable and the classes friendly. However, I think these classes are tailored towards hobbyists. I was frustrated with the emphasis placed on creativity over technical skills. Having also done short painting and sculpting courses at Southbank Tafe and Queensland College of Arts, I think a short course with QCA Enterprise or Southbank Tafe would suit people wishing to pursue their art seriously and the prices would be comparable as well. NB: Some subjects at Brisbane Institute of Art can count towards a Certificate in Art or a Diploma in Art but check with staff for clarification. NB: Opening hours refer to the office hours. BIA is open on weekends and evenings for students attending classes

Each year, I leave the Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) inspired, stimulated and sad that it's over…read morefor another year. For a week every September, BWF inhabits the State Library of Queensland bringing a host of local, national and international literary talents to its stages. Writers from all fields--literature, science, politics, psychology--come to talk about their work, discuss topics with other writers and deliver workshops over the week-long festival. The first four days are usually filled with events for school groups and the real events kick off with the opening night on a Thursday, followed by 3 jam-packed days of events for the adults. At BWF, there are both ticketed and non-ticketed events. I've always just stuck to the free ones and have never felt like I've missed out on anything. If happy to splash out, however, $15 to $20 will get you into a ticketed events. Master classes will set you back around $75 for 3 hours. Keep an eye on their website for the release of each year's program. Hard copies are also distributed in the Courier Mail nearing the festival and at bookshops such as Avid Reader, West End.

If the thought of books, writing, or reading makes you want to jump for joy, then the Brisbane…read moreWriter's Festival is a must. This festival has gone from strength to strength over the years, and attracts a strong variety of local and international writers every year. Last year, Jonathan Franzen, Ann Patchett, and Philip Pullman were among the big names that drew record number crowds. There are always interesting panels, workshops (oftentimes free, and many of them geared towards kids), and author interviews every day of the festival, and the venues for each event alternate between the clean, modern State Library facilities. The catering has also improved; this year they offered festival-goers a variety of sandwiches and freshly baked muffins, as well as rice paper rolls. Each year there is also a surprise flash mob too; two years ago a group of dancers executed a choreographed routine in one of the tents, and last year, a choir began singing on the ground level of the library.

I found this place when I was looking for an alternative to Office Works. I needed to do a whole…read morelot of wedding related craft (thrifty brides do stuff themselves OK) and I wanted to give my money to a smaller retailer without paying a fortune. Hi Edsco! This stationery warehouse is, well, a warehouse which means its ginormous. I found everything I needed here, and the array of new binders, great pens and colourful slim pick wallets made me want to go back to uni. Oh, and even though it says Yiada St, the parking and entrance is on Tanimbla St.

Another wonderful school stationery supplier on Brisbane's Northside. The showroom is HUGE and…read morethey have an amazing range of educational products catering from pre-school aged children all the way up to university students. EDSCO have an online ordering system in place for anyone wishing to have school booklists filled (these can be collected at a later time or delivered), and can order in products which are not available in store (which, unless it is peak time, is highly unlikely). The owner, Maurie Young is a former principal who prides himself on supplying the local community with the best quality educational materials. You will find all your back to school needs here .

Whoever created Reverse Garbage is a genius and should be given a medal for helping to solve the…read moreworld's waste problems. Don't get me started on my overconsumption rant! Reverse Garbage is a not-for-profit that accepts donations of industrial scraps or pays a small fee for them, organises them in a way that is consumer-friendly and sells them, saving "rubbish" from going into landfill. As a sewer, I love their fabric scraps. Most of it's off-cuts of pretty odd shapes but there are some small rolls of fabric too. Selling truly random things like bottle caps, brochures, long tubes of mesh-like fabric--things that would otherwise be considered junk--this is a great place for creative souls, kindergarten teachers in search of craft material and anyone who wants to look first for second-hand materials before buying something new and contributing to the cycle of consumption! Uh-oh, I feel that rant coming on again...

Full of bits of wood, mannequins, plastic, rope, fabric and thousands of other bits and bobs that…read morewere going to be thrown out by various industrial places. In this way, they are stopping waste and allowing things to have a second chance at life. They are always getting new things in and the best way to hear about their latest bargain is to keep an eye on their facebook page. They are a not-for-profit organisation that goes to schools to do workshops and have a small shop that sells upcycled handmade goodies from local craftspeople. If you love craft and DIY (or you're renovating your house), this is the place for you. Everything is priced reasonably. I have used some of their things for my own crafting projects. Perhaps the only problem is their location; they can be a bit hard to get to. I catch the bus and jump off at the P.A. Hospital. From there it's about a 15 minute walk.

A great night out- I am a terrible artist but I left with a decent painting. The instructor can…read morehelp out when you make a mistake and will give sugguestions on how to fix it. BYO so you can bering any type of wine or beer that you like. A few people even had a few snacks they brought. It was a relaxing way to spend the evening with friends.