The Gallery of Modern Art was the perfect rainy day activity. From the interactive experiences, to…read morethe moving art installations, it was a captivating and immersive experience. The tickets were fairly reasonable, the workers were kind and welcoming and the selection of art was amazing.

Mostly referred to as the GOMA, this art museum is a great place to learn about different styles…read moreand modes of artistic creation. The facility itself is superb, with multiple floors to view. Also, it has many spaces for quiet reflection or purposeful concentration. FREE! That is right-- this Museum is free so take advantage of its collections. Even just a small amount of time walking through a few of the exhibits can be a wonderful way to take a break.

In another lifetime I use to be a ceramic sculptor so I'm a huge supporter of Monte Lupo. This mob…read morehas been around for around twenty years - I remember when they had their shop had Garden City but then they expanded and moved out to Eight Mile Plains. Monte Lupo is an initiative of Multicap to assist people with a disability learn the skills to become professional artists. You need to check out their gallery because damn - their work is GOOD. If ever you're looking for an original tea set or a unique sculpture for your house, check out this place before going to the fancy galleries in town. Not that the galleries in town focus on ceramics anyway - the only other ceramic gallery in Brisbane Fusions was 'temporarily closed' the last time I checked in December. The ceramic pieces here are brightly coloured which may not be to everyone's taste. I personally prefer raku, celadon and the more Japanese inspired glazes. The artists do accept commissions though if you want a made-to-measure. Monte Lupo is one of those places that make me proud to live in Brisbane. NB Monte Lupo is usually open on Saturday mornings but they are closed on Saturdays for the next month. Call to confirm before making a visit on a weekend.

Marly/person who runs the gallery, I salute you because…read moreTidy is one heck of a art spot. A small but lovely exhibition space in Woolloongabba, it's often passed by in favour of spaces closer to the city. (i.e. Jugglers or Nine Lives.) However I think it's location on the busy logan road is an asset more than hindrance. This space is perfectly positioned near the antique strip nearby restaurants and is relatively easy to get to on public transport. If you are an artist this pretty two room gallery (With gorgeous high ceilings and desk space to boot!) is available for hire for a reasonable $400...with an extra $200 to leave it hangin' for a week after your exhibition. (Best if you round up a group to cut costs.)

This is a fabulous little tucked away place. Next to the Indooroopilly Laundromat in Hillsdon Road…read moreCentre, you probably wouldn't know it's there! It's a skinny little shop, but inside it's full of wonderful art, crafts and gift ideas! It's a gallery and studio for local artist Leesa Bradford and she sells her works and other artists works and jewellery. Lots of lovely and changing art pieces, good value too. And the jewellery is wonderful. If you are doing your laundry, popping in to the Corner Store of having a Coffee in the Courtyard around the back....stop in and have a browse. You may just find something you HAVE to have....like I did!

Tucked away within the Queensland College of Arts, you'll be forgiven for walking past Oxlades two…read moreor three times before noticing it. This specialist art shop is open to the public although QCA staff and students receive a 10% discount. They carry a wide range of fine art products from oil paints to charcoals and a variety of canvases, drawing paper and sketch books. They also carry multiple brands of the same product to cater for the emerging artist who may not want to pay a premium for professional products while they're still training. Although they don't stock much in terms of craft products and they have a limited range of instructional art books, Oxlades is well worth a sticky beak for the hobby artist.

Oxlades Art Centre at QCA sells a good variety of art supplies, but the stock isn't stellar…read more Because it's such a tiny store and more catered for on campus emergency supplies, i.e. when a student is in dire need for new brushes, or they've run out of a certain paint colour, they can just duck downstairs and head back to class. But if you're shopping as an outsider, which I was, I found the stock and service a little underwhelming. I was after a specific type of paper for an art project I was working on and the staff member either didn't know what I was on about, or didn't know whether or not they stocked it. That said, they did have a great variety of inks (if that's what you're after...I know I was!) and weren't bothered that I spent a bit of time there trying to figure out exactly what blue (they sold many tints and shades) I needed. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you're after an art supplies store with a giant range, but if you're in the area and dying for a tube of paint or a can of fixative, by all means duck in and have a browse.

A tiny little nook of a shop but full of myriad surprises, (m)art is associated with the acclaimed…read moreArtisan Gallery in the Fortitude Valley. As you survey the intriguing range of jewellery, ceramics and other one-off pieces, you get the feeling that you've walked into a modern art museum (though on a small scale), the difference being that you can buy the artworks and take them home with you. The prices aren't cheap, as you'd expect for works of such quality. I've noticed some lovely bespoke ceramic cups and bowls going for $66 each, which I would happily buy for a wedding present or for my home. However, a series of commonplace objects encased in rectangular prism made of resin (the only I can remember was a dead bee) going for $220 each seemed a bit rich to me. Perhaps there's some special reason unbeknownst to a layperson such as myself for their seemingly exorbitant procetags.

(m)art design store has got to be one of my favourite shops in South Bank! This design space, come…read morejewellar, come book store, come gift shop is a mixture of different artist's work and boasts some gorgeous things. The design of the store itself is fantastic, and is one of the first things to catch the eye of people passing by. All of the shelves and display tops are made with upturned takeaway coffee cups. It adds a completely new dimension to your average shopping experience and really gives it the feel of an art gallery. Sure, the prices in (m)art aren't exactly cheap, but be careful to keep in mind that the work on display is primarily by local artists (and let's face it, us creative types are hard-pressed earning a crust). For this reason, I would say that the prices are fair. Next time you're in South Bank, make sure you head in to (m)art for a browse. It's the perfect place to buy a gift for someone who has everything, or even for a wedding present. Plus, it's always great to support local and emerging artists.

Being a fan of art and illustration, I find framing stores really appealing. Usually they are too…read moreexpensive to warrant the money for the 5 minute scribble I come up with as an illustration but I like them anyway. The Framing Corner has a great range of frames. The sample board across the back of the store showcases a range of materials, cuts and colours for frames so you can mix and match with what you need. I also like the prints they have on display of different posters and artwork. It is a nice place to browse and to keep in mind for your next potential masterpiece.

Now I haven't exactly frequented many framing shops, but maybe that's just because most of them…read moredon't place themselves as strategically as this place - in a busy shopping centre with an open store for everyone walking past to be able to get a good look inside and see exactly what they do. While I may not be an expert, these guys sure are. Every inch of the shop is covered with framed pictures showcasing the work they do, while half of one wall has a closely packed display of all the different types of frames on offer here. When I visited there were two people working, which might seem like an extravagance for this type of shop, but I guess that indicates just how busy they are.

Before the Queensland Museum moved to the cultural precinct at South Brisbane, it called the Old…read moreMuseum it's home from 1899 until 1986. It was designed by George Henry Male Addison and was built in 1891 after the original building that stood there was destroyed by the fires of 1888. It is if you ask me, one of the most beautiful and opulent landmarks of inner city Brisbane. The Old Museum stands out like a glimmer of hope in the midst of a concrete jungle. The modern and renovated Royal Brisbane Hospital is just over the bridge, the Ekka showgrounds are just underneath it, and the more industrial zone of Bowen Hills is directly behind it. If you stand back and take in the entire landscape, it becomes easy to see how far Brisbane has changed through the ages. Quite frankly, I like the Old Brisbane better than the new one if the Old Museum and other heritage listed buildings of her kind are anything to go by. The Old Museum is now a venue for a multitude of events. The Finders Keepers markets are held there biannually, international and local musicians play there frequently (Amanda Palmer! Beth Orton!), travelling showcase events like the Bohemian Masquerade Ball have held their Brisbane leg of the tour there, and the Burlesque Bombshell Academy holds burlesque dancing workshops there. Holy dooley. The Queensland National Ballet, Queensland Police Pipes and Drums, Queensland Youth Choir and Zen Zen Zo Phyiscal Theatre are all tenants of the Old Museum too. Even though there's a seemingly endless line of groups and people in and out of there all the time, you can hire the venue space. There's a lot of information on the website, and it appears that all you have to do is write them a proposal of what you'd like to do there, and when, and they'll decide yay or nay and get back to you. When I was a little kid, my mum took me for a picnic on the grounds of the Old Museum. With all of my traditional girly notions still intact, I told her I wanted to get married there one day. Apparently I got very excited about the whole idea, and when she told me it had closed down and I couldn't have my wedding there, I wailed. Well, look, some 20 years later, and the dream place of my nuptials is a venue for hire. Now all that's left is for me to find that poor bastard who'd put up with me 'forever more'.

Although I am relatively new to the Brisbane scene, it wasn't long…read morebefore I found out about the charming and handsome Old Museum. Character literally flakes off these old beams and floorboards, this space provides a truly beautiful and intimate setting. Not just a pretty face the Old Museum has played host to myriad events. This old gal has seen everything from Amanda Palmer, Designer Markets and the QLD youth choir being staged beneath her red brick arches. My favourite event here has to be the Finders Keepers markets, the old halls are perfect for this vintage themed event and the gardens make for a kickass concert space/picnic area. (Perfect for those languid summer afternoons and eve's I recommend grabbing some friends and heaving a picnic basket to the lawn.)