FAQs

What is The Edge?

The Edge is The State Library of Queensland’s digital culture centre. It is provided as an initiative of the Queensland Government; a cornerstone of arts, culture + me — the Queensland Government’s Children and Young People in the Arts Action Plan 2008–2011.

What is a digital culture centre?

In the Edge’s case, it is a centre full of equipment including hardware and software for video and filmmaking, sound recording, and graphic design, plus open wireless internet and meeting spaces to facilitate collaborations across creative disciplines.

Who is the target audience for The Edge?

Its primary focus is young people aged 15 to 25 years; however, it is available for anyone who wants to organise or contribute to projects and other activities that are aimed at this group.

I want to showcase my work, can The Edge help me?

Yes! That’s one of its main reasons for being here. Whatever your artform, there are several ways The Edge can help you exhibit and/or distribute your work. Get in touch to find out how The Edge can help you.

How is The Edge related to SLQ?

The Edge encourages people to access, contribute to and comment upon the collections and services of the State Library as a significant public resource.

The Edge is SLQ’s newest initiative, sitting alongside the more established programs. The Edge continues the State Library’s growth as a cultural and knowledge destination, fulfilling its mission of ‘creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other’.

Libraries have always been about knowledge and information: its creation, storage and use by the community. The Edge is about all of these, with a focus on the digital. This focus is part of SLQ’s response to the fact that now most information is created and stored digitally, and continues the library’s development as a leading 21st century library.

As receptacles of knowledge, libraries have provided inspiration and information to generations of creative people. Through The Edge, this process is extended full circle, through showcasing and promoting creative outputs, back to recording and storing them for future generations.

Read more about SLQ’s service commitment to you.

What facilities are available at the Edge? How do you see people using it?

Creating all sorts of art and technology, research, training, mentoring and being mentored, networking, and entertaining and being entertained. There are four media labs:

• Lab 1 Screen and Sound is for sophisticated production of sound, video, gaming and animation. Groups of up to 20 can participate in projects and workshops in VJing, DJing, machinima, video game programming, and music and soundscape production. It’s equipped with high spec PC and Mac computers, Wacom Cintiq Tablets, projectors, wireless control and a range of software.
• Lab 2 Mobile and Physical for basic screen-based production geared toward software, hardware and electronics workshops. Like a digital tool shed, this lab is equipped with high-spec Mac and PC laptops, projectors, and a range of production software for electronics, hardware-hacking, re-engineering and reconfiguring, software coding, mobile applications and web development. There is also a set of older tools like Super8 and Polaroid.
• Lab 3 Record and Mix is a compact, sound proofed studio with near-professional equipment and specialist software for audio recording and mixing.
• Lab 4 Print and Cut is dedicated to fabricating, building, assembling and prototyping with 3D printers and laser cutters.

How can I get involved in The Edge?

There are many avenues for you to get involved. As an individual you can:

• attend various events that will be held in the space: workshops, think tanks, open labs, and Friday night gigs
• organise your own events and book the Auditorium, window bays, or Mezzanine for them
• drop in and use these spaces if they are not already in use
• book facilities in any of the four Media labs: Lab 1: Screen and sound, Lab 2: Mobile and physical, Lab 3: Record and mix, and Lab 4: Print and cut.
• apply to be a Catalyst or Resident (see below).

As an organisation, you can engage with The Edge in various ways, including through sponsorships and project partnerships.

The Edge is interested in working with partners across a wide variety of sectors including (but not limited to) all levels of government, ICT, arts, media, secondary and tertiary education, design, sustainability, and other creative industries.

The centre operates on a flexible partnerships model to enable all types of creative opportunities for collaboration and funding.

The many partners, collaborators, participants, catalysts and residents from the arts, public and private sectors will use The Edge to develop and deliver projects, events, workshops and programs.

Why is it difficult to describe what The Edge is?

Because it’s so multi-facetted — and there’s nothing like it in Australia yet. We don’t want to define it too much at this early stage because we would run the risk of limiting people’s ideas of how they can use the centre.

What are you looking for in Catalysts?

People with ideas for programs and events to turn out of the Edge, and the skills and experience in their field(s) to really influence what happens at The Edge in its first six months.

The Edge’s Catalysts are the people who animate The Edge and drive the programming. They work in the Edge and we call them catalysts because they are responsible for making interesting things happen.

Catalysts have full access to the all the resources of The Edge and act as mentors to others working in the space.

Catalysts are recruited every six months. The roles are paid jobs for one day a week for six months (or equivalent).

What are you looking for in Residents?

We are looking to support Residents’ projects that align with The Edge’s core values, namely those that are focussed on digital culture, young Queenslanders, environmental issues and innovation.

Support can be a whole range of things, such as a computer for an allotted time during your project, other office facilities like a photocopier and printer, specialist software, the sound studio, or film/video equipment.

In return for The Edge’s support, Residents share their creative process through some kind of public outcome such as workshops, exhibitions, lectures, event or documentation and acknowledge The Edge in all future displays.

Residents are recruited every six months. They will receive a stipend of about $200 a week as well as other support.

Are there other ways people can use The Edge?

Yes, anyone can drop in between 12 noon and 6 pm, seven days a week. The wireless internet is always on and open and the window bays and other spaces are there to be used by individuals or groups.

I’m over 25 — can I still be involved?

Yes! The Edge’s primary focus is on young people, but welcomes anyone who can deliver projects, events, workshops and so on, to enrich the skills and knowledge of the young people who use The Edge.

I’m not in Brisbane. How can I get involved?

You can be a part of The Edge community through the web portal from just about anywhere.

In addition, The Edge is committed to bridging education, arts, technology and enterprise platforms for young people throughout Queensland. We want the dialogues and collaborations that grow out of The Edge to be enriched by the voices, creativity and ideas of young people from across Queensland’s diverse regions, cultures and demographics.

To make sure that we represent the diversity of Queensland’s young people and our programs are accessible, The Edge will include a range of strategies that will allow us to capitalise on opportunities and address any barriers to participation.

I’m under 18, can I still use the space?

Yes, The Edge is set up to be used particularly by people aged 15–25 years. However, we do have some special responsibilities to people under 18:

• If you’re under 12, you are not able to use The Edge computers to access the internet. You are able to bring in your own laptop and use The Edge’s wireless.
• From 12 to 14 years, you can use The Edge computers to access the internet, as long as you have written permission from a parent or guardian.
• From 14 to 17 years, you can use The Edge computers to access the internet, as long as you have written permission from a parent or guardian or have attended a ‘safe use of the internet’ seminar from SLQ.

Permission forms are available from The Edge website, or SLQ reception.

Do people need to book spaces and resources?

To begin with, the window bays will be first come, first served, and as The Edge gets busier we will set up a booking system. The other resources — labs, auditorium, computers — will need to be booked.