The Refinery is
designed to refine, test and launch ideas into impactful businesses.
The Refinery is a creative incubator designed to transform ideas into sustainable businesses.
A testing ground and training platform, The Refinery connects the dots between creativity and business, with access to mentors and a network of inspiring industry leaders sharing real time knowledge.
Working both online and from select venues on the Sunshine Coast, including The MET Maroochydore, 15 participants come together once a week for 15 weeks, culminating in a public showcase event.
The Refinery presents weekly programmed sessions covering business strategy, market analysis, economic models and connects collaborators and investors to bring ideas to market.
Participants will also get mentoring from leading industry professionals, provide support to each other via a digital platform and gain access to online learning modules which cover the fundamentals of turning an idea into impact.
Connect online for future announcements.
Who is The Refinery for?
Made for Creative People
The Refinery is the region's first creative incubator, focused on education, experimentation and creative development, designed to support independent artists, early stage entrepreneurs and creative industry practitioners with an idea ready to go and a drive to use business as a force for good.
Applications are invited from individuals and groups from across the creative sector including visual art, screen, design, architecture, publishing, literature, advertising, media, podcasting, game development, fashion, performing arts, music, heritage and artisan craft.
The program is fully subsidised and applications are open to residents across Australia. To participate in The Refinery applicants must attend a one day bootcamp to assess their proposed business idea and must be available to participate in the full program.
Applications for 2022 are now closed.
Program
MARCH 1
WEEK 1
March 29
WEEK 2
April 5
WEEK 3
April 12
WEEK 4
April 19
WEEK 5
April 26
WEEK 6
May 3
WEEK 7
May 10
WEEK 8
May 17
WEEK 9
May 24
WEEK 10
May 31
WEEK 11
June 7
WEEK 12
June 14
WEEK 13
June 21
WEEK 14
June 28
TUESDAY JULY 5
BOOTCAMP
Designed to evaluate potential applicants, by invitation, and assess their proposed business idea and readiness.
INCUBATOR
OH HELLO!
Get to know each other, project partners, alumni + plan for success.
IMPACT + PURPOSE
Setting a purposeful path; using your business as a force for good, tapping into ethics and impact.
CREATIVE BUSINESS MODEL
Understand your artistic identity, creative product and design, and define/refine your business model.
YOU + THE MARKET
Who is your customer; identifying the opportunity; product validation, sales and future proofing.
BRAND, IMAGERY AND VISUAL COMMS
Find your brand’s visual language and social media strategy.
STORYTELLING + PITCHING
Share your story and purpose along with fundamentals of pitching your business
MAKE YOUR BUSINESS LEGIT
An introduction to navigating legals, governance, contracts, agreements, IP and future proofing.
SELL IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT
Tap into the money stream, tracking, accounting and forecasting your finances plus copy writing, publicity and social media tips.
CROWDFUNDING + LAUNCH PATH
How might you fund your venture and what is needed to make it a success?
COLLABORATE AND LISTEN
Explore partnership potentials in your business with B2B, corporates and Government bodies.
PITCH PERFECT
Rehearse and refine your pitch with project partners and program alumni.
JUST FOR YOU
Custom content for 4.0 cohort, we’ll finalise this as we get to know you!
YOU GOT THIS
A week to focus on your own priorities + tap into one-on-one opportunities with Project Partners.
PITCH PREP & WHAT NEXT
Rehearsing and refining your presentation for pitch night, your market and potential collaborators.
SHOWCASE!
Take your idea to market and celebrate!
Masterclasses
2022 Mentors + Facilitators
Creative Business Model Canvas
Impact Boom
Future Anything
Sarah Mak | David Lloyd Lewis
Business Models Inc.
Creative Partnerships Aust.
StartSomeGood
Odette and Co.
Tees by Alex
Made for the coast
The Refinery is made for creatives on the Sunshine Coast and designed around how we work, practice and live within the region.
Curated by our region's industry leaders, we explore future trends, potential disruptions, global challenges and most importantly, deliver an incubator with our unique lifestyle in mind. We will do this in collaboration with an ever-growing network of local, national and international specialists, designers and other forward-thinking partners.
Meet the Creatives
An initiative of
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Proud delivery partner
Industry sponsor
Supported by
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
Program development thanks to
Start something
