GOING IN DEEP WITH GEORGE SPEIRS FROM GENESIS CREATIVE CENTRE
In April of this year a new and completely innovative new space opened up in Bali in the Brawa area. Tucked away in the rear of the incredibly slick Tamora Gallery. If you work your way through the maze of independent boutiques and cafes you will find a very impressive little complex called The Genesis Creative Centre.
We went along for the opening and were really impressed on what they were offering for the creative nomad community clearly beyond anything else we had seen.
Of course, they have a great co-working space and a cool little café/bar downstairs but what was more impressive was the little gems hidden behind each door as you work your way round the space. A creative dream unravels itself in the shape of a recording studio, a photography studio, an artists space.
We spoke to the man behind Genesis, not God but a lovely guy called George Spiers who kindly took time out to give us a little insight into what goes on at Genesis Creative Centre.
How long have you been open and how have the first few months worked out for you?
Genesis has been open for 4 months now and the reception to the concept has been amazing. With 300+ bookings completed so far, it seems like a lot of people have been waiting for a creative space like ours.
What are the different aspects you offer to creatives?
Being multi-disciplinary, we have studios for music, photo, fashion, art and brainstorming, as well as a cool, comfy and productive coworking hub. The idea was to bring the physical proximity of these creative spaces down to a few meters and encourage inspiration, creation, collaboration and exhibition.
Are you finding it is particularly popular with a certain demographic or is it a good mix?
We have had a wide range of creatives at Genesis – the youngest being 4 years old and the eldest being 75+. Interest and bookings have mostly been expatriates but I believe this is due to our choice of marketing everything in English. There are so many talented and creative Indonesians on the island and we want to be a major platform for them. We are now looking to engage with them through more workshops, collaborations and supportive programs.
Is there any particular aspect of the various studios you offer that are proving to be more popular than others?
The photo and music studio are very popular since many creatives starting out don’t have an abundance of funds or easy access to the equipment required to see their projects through. We run our studios on an hourly schedule too so their time can be economised and savings maximised.
Have there been any collaborations of interest that were borne in Genesis?
There have been a handful of connections at Genesis – even some that go on beyond the borders of the Genesis grounds. Recently, we collaborated with Tiiiga, a fashion brand focusing on limited edition prints of artists’ works. We have also connected eco-conscious designers with local sustainable producers after our fashion sustainability talk in our Coworking Hub.
What are your plans short and long-term for the space?
Genesis will continue to provide the platform that Bali creatives need, fine tuning our spaces and offerings. The Community of creatives we are trying to foster is also going to be a short and long term goal for us. I aim to add more spaces and broaden the creative scope too – stay tuned!
What was your thinking behind the name “Genesis”?
Many have asked if we were inspired by Phil Collins’ band, but no. Genesis comes from the greek word “Gignesthai” which means “to be born or developed”. I thought this was a perfect name for this kind of platform since people come here to give birth to ideas and develop them through action.
Where can people find out more and keep abreast of all your news and events?
Best place to get all our updates is Instagram so head over to @inspireatgenesis for all the juicy details on our spaces head to www.inspireatgenesis.com
THE GUYS AT GENESIS HAVE ALSO KINDLY GIVEN ONE LUCKY WINNER THE CHANCE TO WIN 5 HOURS STUDIO TIME IN THEIR RECORDING STUDIO WHICH IS IDEAL IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MIXTAPE, WORK ON A TRACK OR SIMPLY MESS ABOUT WITH YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC!
SIMPLY ANSWER THIS QUESTION TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE:
Where did the name Genesis come from :
a) Because George considers himself a God
b) From the infamous Phil Collins album which is a favourite of George
c) From the Greek word ‘Gignesthai’ which means “To Be Born Or Developed”
EMAIL YOUR ANSWER TO INFO@SECRETBALI.LIFE AND WE WILL PICK A LUCKY WINNER – DEADLINE IS FRIDAY 23RD AUGUST!