The Refinery is a Creative Incubator

designed to transform ideas into sustainable businesses.

The Refinery is

designed to refine, test and launch ideas into impactful businesses.

The Refinery is a testing ground and training platform that joins the dots between creativity and business, with access to mentors and a network of inspiring industry leaders providing participants with the business skills, tools and connections to turn their idea into a sustainable business.

With programmed sessions including keynote speakers and workshops lead by industry experts, participants will immerse themselves in The Refinery online incubator space, 2 days a week over 8 weeks, culminating in a public showcase event to launch your business.

The 2020 program runs from Thursday May 7 - Friday July 3.

Find out more

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 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 free and applications are open to residents across Australia. To participate in The Refinery applicants will be invited to attend a one day bootcamp to assess their proposed business idea.

Program

BOOTCAMP

Designed to evaluate potential applicants and assess their proposed business project.

INCUBATOR

WEEK 1

GOALS

Induction; Setting the space and culture, personal development, goals; abundance mindset and one-on-one mentor rotations.

WEEK 2

CREATIVE BUSINESS MODEL

Your artistic identity, creative product and business mod

WEEK 3

CUSTOMER AND PRODUCT

Who is your customer; identifying your opportunity; product, sales and future proofing.

WEEK 4

IMPACT AND PURPOSE

Setting a purposeful path; using your business as a force for good.

WEEK 5

BRAND, STORY AND MARKETING

Sharing your brand story and crafting your purpose.

SHOWCASE & FUTURE

Rehearsing and refining your presentation to market.

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

Masterclasses

SOUND BUSINESS

Navigating legals, finance and future proofing

PAUSE

Reflection and mentoring

2020 Mentors

The Design Kids

OK Motels

Kay Langford

Tribe Global

with StoryBoxes

2019 Mentors

ARTCLUB

Josephmark

Hatched

River City Labs

People Make Places

Startup Creative

Made for the coast

Reimagined for 2020

The Refinery is produced and delivered on the Sunshine Coast and designed around how creatives practice and live within the region.

We will set out to explore future trends, potential disruptions, global challenges and most importantly, deliver an incubator with our unique lifestyle in mind. That means surf breaks, beach walks and iced coffees on us. We will do this in collaboration with an ever-growing network of local, national and international specialists, designers and other forward-thinking partners.

The program pivots online in 2020 with a testing ground and virtual catalyst space where participants can connect with world-class mentors and collaborate with industry peers.