Today we’d like to introduce you to Louise Millroy.
Louise, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I studied a Bachelor of International Business & a Bachelor of Creative Industries at University in Australia, while doing a few different internships/freelance jobs on the side. One of them was for a fashion label where I found a particular interest in the manufacturing side of things. Having been to Bali many times since I was a child, and understanding that there was a manufacturing scene here, I decided to start a production of apparel/manufacturing business + a small creative services business in Bali. That and a few other jobs in the fashion industry were my focus for the first two years of living in Bali before deciding I wanted to open Kinship Studio.
Kinship was born out of feeling there was lacking a space that fostered ‘real life connections’, outside of the social scene in Bali. I was struggling to find somewhere that I enjoyed working from and wasn’t feeling inspired or creative while working from my house. I also missed attending pop up exhibitions, key note speakers and creative events, which I believe were offered widely in Brisbane (where I studied University). At the time, I had a few friends who were looking for space to house their small businesses & I knew this could be incorporated into Kinship. With this, I decided to open up an area that would allow people to work independently & communally with a few other creative additions. It was important to me not to build something new, but to take something old and make it space I envisioned. In turn, I found a former garment factory, which was to be the perfect location for Kinship Studio. The building was restored to life & seven private offices. A photostudio + high ceiling communal space was built. I wanted to create a space, almost like a blank canvas, so people could come and work on their projects but also be inspired to share with the community.
Now we have a creative space with over 50 active members, a thriving art studio and an exciting community. We regularly host community events under the pillars of ‘wellness, creativity & business/social’ where we invite members and the community to partake in everything from guided meditation sessions, to art classes & sustainable building practice talks.
You may ask why Bali? Well, I believe the environment here not only fosters but almost forces people to be creative. Creative in the way they live, earn money and create a life for themselves. As working 9-5 jobs isn’t an option here, people are encouraged to become creative with their sources of income and think outside of the box. On top of this, the island is densely populated with many creative people which reminds us to not get too comfortable with mediocre, and to constantly seek and evolve with ideas.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Navigating the legal side to opening a business in Indonesia would have to be one of the main struggles I’ve faced. Although I took my time in getting to know the island and its community, so I have had huge amounts of support from the community throughout the process of setting up and operating a business in Bali. Other than that, the community has been very welcoming and Kinship has been well received by a multitude of creatives from around the globe.
Please tell us about the business.
Set in the remnants of an ex-garment factory, Kinship Studio is a multifaceted creative space hosting: private studios, a communal workspace, a photography studio and a café. Community is the backbone of Kinship Studio. We welcome those who choose to work within the space to interact with the environment created and the community hosted. We encourage the customization of private workspaces to meet the needs & creative processes for those who create within our walls.
Kinship Studio is the first of its kind in Bali – it’s a communal workspace designed for creatives who want to be inspired by those around them. Regular workshops, events, exhibitions, and skills-share evenings are one of the reasons creatives are choosing Kinship Studio to be their home base.
We have a fantastic team from across the world and members of the community often lead in-house workshops and events. Pathing the way for Kinships art scene is Jaryd Adair – our in-house artist in residence, teacher and lover of all things community centered. He hosts regular art classes for all skill levels & welcomes those who want to unleash their creative side, in a supportive environment.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up abroad in Hong Kong – exploring & navigating the incredibly diverse city as a kid! Full of so many wonders and such a contrast to my earlier years growing up in Australia.
Pricing:
- Monthly Unlimited Pass IDR 2,000,000
- 50 Hour Pass IDR 1,000,000
- 25 Hour Pass IDR 700,000
- Day Pass IDR 220,000
- Photography Studio Rental IDR 500,000 per hour
- Private Studio Pricing Upon Request
Contact Info:
- Address: Gg. Jalak VIB No.4, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
- Website: https://kinshipstudiobali.com/
- Phone: +62 877 8537 8176
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/kinshipstudiobali
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/kinshipstudiobali
Image Credit:
Keira Mason
Dennis Arthur
Ikbal Tawakal
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