Hey! You’re done with your semester! Congratulations! Now what?
We’ve got a solid list of free and cheap things to do over the semester break to get you through until you end up with a tonne of lectures to rewatch. Let’s get cracking:
Brisbane Markets
If there’s something Brisbane does well, it’s a market. There’s plenty of them on, with a tonne of niche areas.
Suitcase Rummage: Suitcase Rummage is on regularly in Brisbane City, first and third Sunday of every month! Come along and pick your way through some of Brissy’s best wardrobes for cheap, and help reduce your fashion waste footprint.
QUT Riverside Markets: Garden’s Point gets the market treatment every Sunday from 6am. You can couple it up with a visit to the QUT Art Gallery while you’re at it, and check out some local businesses at the market.
Forge Forward Mini Mall: This is a one-off event showcasing local artists in the Valley on the 15th of July. It’s an up late market hosted at Design Store, Forge Forward, with a huge lineup of local talent and is free to attend!
Do you run a small business yourself? We’re looking for QUT students with small businesses who are interested in selling their products at a student market on campus in semester two. The market is being facilitated by Glass Editor, Em! We’re interested in: Art (Prints, ceramics etc), Clothing (Original or recycled), Plants, Zines, Jewellery & Accessories, Homewares, Food & Providores, & More! Send a little bit about you, your business and any social links to ereadman@qutguild.com with the subject line ‘student market.’ we’ll let you know when registrations open in July!
QUT Guild: In Session
QUT Guild is having a music festival for students! It’s called In Session, and has cheap tickets that get you access to a massive line-up. You’ve got Stace Cadet, DVNA, Choomba and Hope D getting up on the Tivoli Stage, all for a lobster ($20 bucks)! Get your friends together and head on out for the cheapest you’ll ever see these artists. Tickets are on sale now and going fast! Buy one here!
Emerging Writer’s Festival 2021
This one is for our writers! Emerging Writer’s Festival is a yearly event dedicated to, you guessed it, emerging writers. For the second year in a row they’ve transitioned online, and while this is sad for Melbourne, it’s great for Brisbane pals who want to get in on the action. There’s plenty of free events and readings to check out, as well as workshops and masterclasses. It starts on the 16th of June, today! Check out the program here and develop your writing over the holidays.
I’m personally going to A Body of Writing With Sam van Zweden. The preview says, “When we write the body, what are we examining of the world around us? When we scrutinise the food we eat, what are we saying of ourselves? In this workshop, learn what it means to write about food and the body and how they each intertwine with memory and story.” The calibre of workshops and talks is high, so get in quick!
Queensland Art Gallery & GOMA
We love a good GOMA trip, it’s good to pass some time and to jazz up your Instagram feed. Currently, QAG has a magnificent chandelier piece by Ai WeiWei installed, and it’s phenomenal to stand under. Over at GOMA, pieces from the Met Museum in New York are on display, for European Masterpieces. European Masterpieces also features The Studio, an interactive experience in the Gallery. Experience daily performances from musicians from the Griffith Conservatoriums and costumed models wearing the clothing painted in the work, and create your own masterpiece with the drawing materials supplied. Students get discounted Concession tickets, just bring your student card!
Head to the Coast
Brisbane has the luxury of being smack-bang between two of the best beaches in the world, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Goldy is best if you’re using public transport, you can jump from the train line to the light rail and get off right by the beach. If you do like a drive, heading to the Sunshine Coast is a great day out. My personal favourites are Moffat Beach, Coolum Beach and Mudjimba Dog Beach (free dog pats!).
Learn To Park
And finally. What the fuck. If you own the Volkswagen that got stuck on the Garden’s Point Stairs, please spend the holidays learning how to park properly. I’m not going to say I’m not glad you crashed your car where you did, because the memes have been great, but please spend some time driving around an empty car park or cul de sac and practice that parking. If you would like to identify yourself, please email media@qutguild.com because we are dying to interview you.
Happy holidays!
