Who’s Who in 2022, Music & Arts: Bribie Island Community Arts Centre

Bribie Island Community Arts Centre, which started as a bicentenary project, is now one of the biggest and busiest arts venues in Australia.

Described as “the creative hub of Bribie Island”, website figures say almost 50,000 people visit the Sunderland Drive venue each year.

It’s a far cry from the early planning days, when the centre was seen as a way for Bribie Island to join the 1988 bicentenary of the first landings in Australia.

Gallery architect Paul Wallace came up with the design and Bribie Island Community Arts Centre opened on December 11 – almost 44 years ago.

Its website says the Banksia Beach venue caters for more than 20 different arts and crafts with workshops, studios and galleries, as well as permanent pottery and glass kilns.

Many local clubs and groups now call the centre home, including Bribie Island Gem and Fossicking Club, Bribie Woodcrafters, quilters, photographers, yoga and gardening clubs.

There is also a gift shop on the site selling handmade products and the popular Café 191, which is open every day.

Bribie potters and Friends are exhibiting some of their works in the centre until December 11 – the same day an alcohol ink workshop is being held.

They follow a Christmas Tree Ornament Pottery Workshop and Bribie Potters open day when members showed their skills to visitors.

There has also recently been an exhibition by the Art Tarts who are described as “all female creatives” who produce items from “painting to jewellery, pottery, glass, felting to recycled, silk work, textiles and mosaic”.

A Christmas earrings workshop and exhibition of works by Bribie Island State High School students were held in November. The art centre has an Artist of the Month award.

With such a list of options the arts centre meets its mission statement to “be a centre where creativity, social connectivity and community flourishes, while visitors and friends of all ages discover, share and grow artistic skills and inspiration”.

Bribie Island Community Arts Centre is located at 191 Sunderland Drive, Bribie Island and is described as “volunteer dependent”.

It opens Tuesday to Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 9am-1pm. Entry is free. Café 191 opens Monday-Saturday 9am-2pm and Sunday 9am-1pm.

For further information phone 3408 9288 or email [email protected]