Understanding Your "Why" - Blick Shared Studios

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How to Identify Core Purpose: 5 Whys

Start with WHAT you do. “We make X products or deliver Y services”
Next, ask “WHY is that important?” How do you make a difference in the lives of your customers?
Ask the WHY question again and again (5 times – Don’t cheat and stop with 3 whys!), each time brainstorming and charting your answers.
After a few whys, you’ll find that you’re getting down to the fundamental purpose of the organization.
Review all the different answers to the WHY question, searching for the answer that resonates most, generates some passion, and gets to the heart of your organization’s Core Purpose.

Questions to Test & Refine Your Core Purpose

Do you find this purpose personally inspiring, and does it make you feel proud of your company?
Can you envision this purpose being as valid 100 years from now as it is today?
Does this purpose help you decide which opportunities and activities to say YES to and which ones to say NO to?
Is this purpose authentic (not merely words on paper that “sound nice”), and would it be greeted with enthusiasm rather than cynicism?

Putting Your Core Purpose Into Words

When you’ve got your purpose figured out, try and put it in words. Keep in mind, it doesn’t need to be a description of your products and services. It needs to be a succinct description of the impact of those products and services, and it usually begins with ‘we.’ And it should speak to your highest aspirations, it doesn’t need to be something you’re delivering on 100 percent today.

Downloadable PDF and Word versions of the Understanding Your “Why” Exercise

Understanding Your "Why" Exercise PDF

PDF: 66.41 KB

A downloadable PDF version of the 'Undertanding Your "Why" exercise'

Download document

Understanding Your "Why" Exercise Word Document

Word doc: 67.50 KB

A downloadable Word version of the 'Undertanding Your "Why" exercise'

Download document

- - NEXT WEEK - FINANCE ADVICE SESSIONS FOR ARTISTS - -

As part of the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery and the Baring Foundation we will be facilitating these 1-2-1 online Financial Advice Sessions for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

These sessions will be an opportunity for artists to talk through their art practice finances and the tailored financial resources we will put together ahead of the sessions. Registered artists will work with us in advance of the session to ensure the outcomes are personalised to meet the financial needs of each artist. All participants will receive personalised post-session goals and actions.

For more info and to book visit:

For more info and to book visit: https://blickstudios.org/events/13482/

Feb 27

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- - NEXT WEEK - FINANCE ADVICE SESSIONS FOR ARTISTS - -

As part of the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery and the Baring Foundation we will be facilitating these 1-2-1 online Financial Advice Sessions for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

These sessions will be an opportunity for artists to talk through their art practice finances and the tailored financial resources we will put together ahead of the sessions. Registered artists will work with us in advance of the session to ensure the outcomes are personalised to meet the financial needs of each artist. All participants will receive personalised post-session goals and actions.

For more info and to book visit:

For more info and to book visit: https://blickstudios.org/events/13482/

What`s coming up at Blick over the next couple of months!

Feb 25

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What's coming up at Blick over the next couple of months!

- - BLICK FINANCE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES - BUDGET & CASHFLOW TEMPLATE--

Today we are sharing our budget and cashflow templates which you can find as downloadable excel templates on the creative resources section of our website. Filling out these templates will help you to understand your costs, plan out your expenses and reach your creative business goals.

https://blickstudios.org/resources/cashflow-template-for-creative-businesses/

Feb 25

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- - BLICK FINANCE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES - BUDGET & CASHFLOW TEMPLATE--

Today we are sharing our budget and cashflow templates which you can find as downloadable excel templates on the creative resources section of our website. Filling out these templates will help you to understand your costs, plan out your expenses and reach your creative business goals.

https://blickstudios.org/resources/cashflow-template-for-creative-businesses/

- - BLICK FINANCE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES - INVOICE TEMPLATE - -

Day 2 of our finance resources for creatives ahead of next weeks Finance one-on-ones for artists that we are facilitating for the @artscouncilni . Here we share with you what you need to include on an invoice. You can also find downloadable excel and PDF invoice templates on our website:

https://blickstudios.org/resources/what-to-include-on-an-invoice/

Feb 24

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- - BLICK FINANCE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES - INVOICE TEMPLATE - -

Day 2 of our finance resources for creatives ahead of next weeks Finance one-on-ones for artists that we are facilitating for the @artscouncilni . Here we share with you what you need to include on an invoice. You can also find downloadable excel and PDF invoice templates on our website:

https://blickstudios.org/resources/what-to-include-on-an-invoice/

- - BLICK FINANCE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES - USEFUL LINKS - -

Ahead of our finance sessions for the Arts Council of Northern ireland next month this week we are going to be sharing out some useful finance resources for creatives from our website. Starting today with some financial links for creatives starting their own business.

HMRC what does it mean to be self-employed? – https://www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself

Registering as self-employed – https://www.gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader

Registering for VAT if your turnover exceeds £85,000 – https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration/when-to-register

Link to a cashflow template – https://www.startuploans.co.uk/cash-flow-forecast-template/

HMRC free payroll software – https://www.gov.uk/basic-paye-tools

Link to the resources page on our website: https://blickstudios.org/resources/useful-finance-resources-links/

Feb 23

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- - BLICK FINANCE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES - USEFUL LINKS - -

Ahead of our finance sessions for the Arts Council of Northern ireland next month this week we are going to be sharing out some useful finance resources for creatives from our website. Starting today with some financial links for creatives starting their own business.

HMRC what does it mean to be self-employed? – https://www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself

Registering as self-employed – https://www.gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader

Registering for VAT if your turnover exceeds £85,000 – https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration/when-to-register

Link to a cashflow template – https://www.startuploans.co.uk/cash-flow-forecast-template/

HMRC free payroll software – https://www.gov.uk/basic-paye-tools

Link to the resources page on our website: https://blickstudios.org/resources/useful-finance-resources-links/

Some great insights from @laurenkelsoillustrator `s creative talk for us back in May last year!

Feb 20

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Some great insights from @laurenkelsoillustrator 's creative talk for us back in May last year!

- - FINANCE ADVICE SESSIONS FOR ARTISTS - -

As part of the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery and the Baring
Foundation, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will be running 2 x online sessions and 5 x in-person Self-Care Workshops for Individual Artists in Derry/Londonderry this March.

Including these 1-2-1 online Financial Advice Sessions we will be hosting for registered artists to talk through their art practice finances and the tailored financial resources we will put together ahead of the sessions. Registered artists will work with us in advance of the session to ensure the outcomes are personalised to meet the financial needs of each artist. All participants will receive personalised post-session goals and actions.

For more info and to book visit: https://blickstudios.org/events/13482/

Feb 19

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- - FINANCE ADVICE SESSIONS FOR ARTISTS - -

As part of the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery and the Baring
Foundation, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will be running 2 x online sessions and 5 x in-person Self-Care Workshops for Individual Artists in Derry/Londonderry this March.

Including these 1-2-1 online Financial Advice Sessions we will be hosting for registered artists to talk through their art practice finances and the tailored financial resources we will put together ahead of the sessions. Registered artists will work with us in advance of the session to ensure the outcomes are personalised to meet the financial needs of each artist. All participants will receive personalised post-session goals and actions.

For more info and to book visit: https://blickstudios.org/events/13482/

- - THE BLICK STORY PART 3 - 2020 - 2025 - -

Part 3 of our story at Blick taking us from 2020 - 2025

This period took us through the stress of rebuilding following the pandemic, but also wonderful experiences like:

- Womenfolk DIg Deep which allowed us to support 27 young women to start and grow their creative businesses over a 9-month period

- Our Time is Now video podcast series which told the stories of 4 successful Belfast creatives

- A fabulous trip to Hong Kong to put together a design installation

-A bittersweet studio move from our first proper studios on the Malone Road to Great Northern Street just off the Lisburn Road.

Currently we are busy working on Belfast Design Week 2026 among other things

You can read our full story on our website: https://blickstudios.org/the-team/the-blick-story/

Feb 18

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- - THE BLICK STORY PART 3 - 2020 - 2025 - -

Part 3 of our story at Blick taking us from 2020 - 2025

This period took us through the stress of rebuilding following the pandemic, but also wonderful experiences like:

- Womenfolk DIg Deep which allowed us to support 27 young women to start and grow their creative businesses over a 9-month period

- Our Time is Now video podcast series which told the stories of 4 successful Belfast creatives

- A fabulous trip to Hong Kong to put together a design installation

-A bittersweet studio move from our first proper studios on the Malone Road to Great Northern Street just off the Lisburn Road.

Currently we are busy working on Belfast Design Week 2026 among other things

You can read our full story on our website: https://blickstudios.org/the-team/the-blick-story/

- - SHARED CREATIVE WORKSPACE AVAILABLE - -

We have dedicated deskspaces available in our beautiful Hill St studios
– £165 per calendar month
– All inclusive prices (rent, rates, utilities, broadband) no VAT
– Minimum 3 months contract then on a rolling monthly contract
– 1 months rent required as a deposit
– Cathedral Quarter location

Email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing or visit our website for more info (link below and in profile )
https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/

Feb 17

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- - BLICK CREATIVE RESOURCES - NESTA CREATIVE ENTERPRISE TOOLKIT - -

A great weekend exercise for anyone with an idea for a creative business!

The idea for Blick came during a NESTA https://www.nesta.org.uk/ creative enterprise program in Belfast School of Art in 2006.

We used this toolkit back then and it`s still a great free resource to help you plan, build, test, communicate and launch your new creative business.

You can find this downloadable PDF on the resources section of our website. Link below and in profile

https://blickstudios.org/resources/nesta-creative-enterprise-toolkit/

Feb 13

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Our latest roundup of opportunities for NI creatives

01. Techstart Regional Innovation Challenge

Deadline: 5pm, Tuesday 17th February 2026

02. Belfast Buildings Trust Creative Belfast internships

Deadline: 20th February 2026

03. Arc’teryx x Ori Women’s Creative Grant
Deadline: 14th February 2026

04. Jerwood Foundation 2026 Funding

Deadline: 2pm, 18th March 2026

05. Atypical Generation Fund

Deadline: 10th March 2026

06.Bank of Ideas Funding

Deadline: 5pm, 23rd March 2026

07. Dragons’ Den: Social Enterprise Edition

Deadline: 5pm, 16th February 2026

08. QEST Grants for Makers and Conservators

Closing date: 18th February

09. Belfast Photo Festival Call for Submissions

Deadline: 2nd March 2026

10. Call to Enter Cinemagic’s ‘On The Pulse’ 2026 competition For Young Filmmakers

Deadline: 20th February 2026

Full details including links on our website (link below and in profile

https://blickstudios.org/blog/13483/

Feb 12

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What`s coming up at Blick over the next couple of months!

Intermediate Poetry Workshop
Event Date(s): February 3rd
Event Time: 6.30 - 8.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 65 Great Northern Street, Belfast, BT9 7FL
Cost: £40

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring
Event Date(s): February 24th
Event Time: 7.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free

Belfast Writers Group – Creative Writing Workshop
Event Date(s): February 28th
Event Time: 12.00 - 4.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: £12
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Personalised Financial Advice Sessions Derry/Londonderry
Event Date(s): March 5th & 6th
Event Time: Various
Location: Online
Cost: Free

Pop Culture Poetics
Event Date(s): March 8th
Event Time: 5 - 7pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 65 Great Northern Street, Belfast, BT9 7FL
Cost: £40

Visit the events page of our website for more info link in profile and below

https://blickstudios.org/events/

Feb 11

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- - THE BLICK STORY PART 2 - 2012 - 2020 - -�

Part 2 of our story at Blick taking us from 2012 - 2020 which seems so long ago now!

This period was probably our busiest, looking back I have no idea how we did it all!

We expanded to the Cathedral Quarter, initially sharing premises with our friends at Flow Yoga, then moving next door to 46 Hill Street and Cotton Court. We also started and managed a creative hub in Derry/Londonderry for 3 years from 2014 for the executive office. We co-founded Belfast Design Week, Womenfolk and Small Town Big Dreams podcast as well as running lots of different events and projects at Blick before everything came to a crahing halt with the pandemic in 2020 which saw us closing our studios for a period and moving Belfast Design Week onto the
streets.

�You can read our full story on our website: �https://blickstudios.org/the-team/the-blick-story/

Feb 10

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- - THE BLICK STORY PART 2 - 2012 - 2020 - -�

Part 2 of our story at Blick taking us from 2012 - 2020 which seems so long ago now!

This period was probably our busiest, looking back I have no idea how we did it all!

We expanded to the Cathedral Quarter, initially sharing premises with our friends at Flow Yoga, then moving next door to 46 Hill Street and Cotton Court. We also started and managed a creative hub in Derry/Londonderry for 3 years from 2014 for the executive office. We co-founded Belfast Design Week, Womenfolk and Small Town Big Dreams podcast as well as running lots of different events and projects at Blick before everything came to a crahing halt with the pandemic in 2020 which saw us closing our studios for a period and moving Belfast Design Week onto the
streets.

�You can read our full story on our website: �https://blickstudios.org/the-team/the-blick-story/

- - BLICK BUSINESS ADDRESS SERVICE - -

As well as offering physical workspace we also offer virtual office space for creative businesses. You can use our Hill St address for your creative business giving your business a professional public image and keeping your home address private.

We offer 2 different services

Monthly Business Address Service £22.50 (Monthly) £200 (Annually)

At the start of each month we will redirect up to 15 items of regular and standard large letter-sized business mail to the address of your choice. Post beyond the 15 letters will be charged at the price of postage, and the cost will be added to your following bill.

Weekly Business Address Service £30 (Monthly) £300 (Annually)

We will redirect business mail to the address of your choice weekly. Up to 25 items of regular and standard large letter-sized mail per calendar month. Post beyond the 25 letters will be charged at the price of postage, and the cost will be added to your following bill.

For more info email rosy@blickstudios.org or visit our website: https://blickstudios.org/virtual-services/

Feb 6

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- - BLICK BUSINESS ADDRESS SERVICE - -

As well as offering physical workspace we also offer virtual office space for creative businesses. You can use our Hill St address for your creative business giving your business a professional public image and keeping your home address private.

We offer 2 different services

Monthly Business Address Service £22.50 (Monthly) £200 (Annually)

At the start of each month we will redirect up to 15 items of regular and standard large letter-sized business mail to the address of your choice. Post beyond the 15 letters will be charged at the price of postage, and the cost will be added to your following bill.

Weekly Business Address Service £30 (Monthly) £300 (Annually)

We will redirect business mail to the address of your choice weekly. Up to 25 items of regular and standard large letter-sized mail per calendar month. Post beyond the 25 letters will be charged at the price of postage, and the cost will be added to your following bill.

For more info email rosy@blickstudios.org or visit our website: https://blickstudios.org/virtual-services/

- - Belfast Stories – Belfast School of Art Year 2 Graphic Design Students X Belfast Design Week Collab Project Site Visit - -

As part of our work for @belfastdesignwk which is happening this May we have been working with @bsoa_graphicdesign Year 2 students on a project that will be showcased in the @belfast_stories building during Belfast Design Week

On Monday this week we visited the Belfast Stories building with the students so they could see the space and plan their designs.

Looking forward to sharing more on the project and the final outputs during Belfast Design Week!

Feb 4

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- - Belfast Stories – Belfast School of Art Year 2 Graphic Design Students X Belfast Design Week Collab Project Site Visit - -

As part of our work for @belfastdesignwk which is happening this May we have been working with @bsoa_graphicdesign Year 2 students on a project that will be showcased in the @belfast_stories building during Belfast Design Week

On Monday this week we visited the Belfast Stories building with the students so they could see the space and plan their designs.

Looking forward to sharing more on the project and the final outputs during Belfast Design Week!

- - AVAILABLE WORKSPACE - 1 DESK COTTON COURT CATHEDRAL QUARTER - -

We have one dedicated deskspace available in our Cotton Court shared creative coworking space:

– £130 per dedicated desk per calendar month all inclusive utilities, rates, broadand etc (No VAT)

– 7am – 10.30pm access

– Industrial style building full of creative organisations in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter

– Safe, well-lit Cathedral Quarter location opposite the Merchant hotel

– Minimum 3 months contract then on a rolling monthly contract

– 1 months rent required as a deposit

Email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing or visit our website (link below and in profile)
https://blickstudios.org/locations/cotton-court-belfast/

Feb 3

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@laurenkelsoillustrator shared her creative story with us back in May last year. Here are 6 Key Lessons from her creative talk to give you some Monday Motivation!

You can read the full writeup on the blog on our website:

https://blickstudios.org/blog/6-key-lessons-from-illustrator-lauren-kelsos-creative-talk/

Feb 2

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@laurenkelsoillustrator shared her creative story with us back in May last year. Here are 6 Key Lessons from her creative talk to give you some Monday Motivation!

You can read the full writeup on the blog on our website:

https://blickstudios.org/blog/6-key-lessons-from-illustrator-lauren-kelsos-creative-talk/

BLICK CREATIVE RESOURCES - YearCompass

As January draws to a close YearCompass is an amazing free downloadable booklet to help you reflect on the past year and plan your next year.

� With a set of carefully selected questions and exercises, YearCompass helps you uncover your own patterns and design the ideal year for yourself. �Learn from your mistakes, celebrate your victories, and set out a path you want to walk on.

About YearCompass
In 2012 on New Year`s Eve with their friends, they made a booklet with a few questions to help their reflection and it went viral. Since then it`s become an international movement with more than 500+ volunteers from 61 countries. Today the YearCompass booklet is available in 52 different languages. The self-printed version is free to download from the YearCompass website and had 2,000,000 downloads last year.

The core team originates from Hungary working together since 2008 on multiple projects like CodeBerry School, Invisible University, and STEAM Academy. Currently active core team members: Békéssy László, P. Tóth András, Vigh István.

��https://www.instagram.com/yearcompass/�

�

��https://blickstudios.org/resources/yearcompass-free-booklet-to-help-you-reflect-on-the-year/��

Jan 30

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BLICK CREATIVE RESOURCES - YearCompass

As January draws to a close YearCompass is an amazing free downloadable booklet to help you reflect on the past year and plan your next year.

� With a set of carefully selected questions and exercises, YearCompass helps you uncover your own patterns and design the ideal year for yourself. �Learn from your mistakes, celebrate your victories, and set out a path you want to walk on.

About YearCompass
In 2012 on New Year's Eve with their friends, they made a booklet with a few questions to help their reflection and it went viral. Since then it's become an international movement with more than 500+ volunteers from 61 countries. Today the YearCompass booklet is available in 52 different languages. The self-printed version is free to download from the YearCompass website and had 2,000,000 downloads last year.

The core team originates from Hungary working together since 2008 on multiple projects like CodeBerry School, Invisible University, and STEAM Academy. Currently active core team members: Békéssy László, P. Tóth András, Vigh István.

��https://www.instagram.com/yearcompass/�

�

��https://blickstudios.org/resources/yearcompass-free-booklet-to-help-you-reflect-on-the-year/��

We thought it would be nice to share a summary of our story here for anyone who doesn`t know much about us, with more info on our team and founders, studios, impact and services to come in the coming weeks!

Our story is so long now since starting in 2007 that we have had to do it in 2 parts! Here is part 1 from 2007 - 2011

We started in 2007 when a group of creatives returning to Northern Ireland from working or studying abroad met on an Ulster University and NESTA course for creative entrepreneurs. We quickly realised the value of working in a room together and also that there weren`t many suitable facilities in Belfast for creative freelancers and small business owners. There were art studios and commercial properties, but not much in between. We soon decided we wanted to set up a shared studio space to work on our creative businesses and soon other creatives started approaching us and the idea for Blick grew from there.
Our ambition with Blick was to create beautiful affordable spaces in great locations in Belfast for professional creatives to work productively and creatively in. Spaces for like-minded creatives to meet and share resources and ideas and support and inspire each other. Spaces that could survive and support creatives long term and be financially sustainable and independent.
As the idea grew and evolved, Christine took over managing Blick while others in the group focused on their own creative businesses. Christine’s sister Rosy came on board as a volunteer initially to manage the financial side of the organisation. Together they have been managing Blick since 2007.
We started with £5000 in a warehouse in the city centre before securing startup funding from Ulster University and Belfast City Council to move into our Malone Studios where we then worked to build a financially sustainable social enterprise model that allows us to support creatives with space, services and support without relying on funding long term.
Now we operate as a non-profit, social purpose offering shared and private studio space to more than 65 creatives across 3 buildings. We also provide virtual office services and run different events and projects to help support creat

Jan 29

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We thought it would be nice to share a summary of our story here for anyone who doesn't know much about us, with more info on our team and founders, studios, impact and services to come in the coming weeks!

Our story is so long now since starting in 2007 that we have had to do it in 2 parts! Here is part 1 from 2007 - 2011

We started in 2007 when a group of creatives returning to Northern Ireland from working or studying abroad met on an Ulster University and NESTA course for creative entrepreneurs. We quickly realised the value of working in a room together and also that there weren't many suitable facilities in Belfast for creative freelancers and small business owners. There were art studios and commercial properties, but not much in between. We soon decided we wanted to set up a shared studio space to work on our creative businesses and soon other creatives started approaching us and the idea for Blick grew from there.
Our ambition with Blick was to create beautiful affordable spaces in great locations in Belfast for professional creatives to work productively and creatively in. Spaces for like-minded creatives to meet and share resources and ideas and support and inspire each other. Spaces that could survive and support creatives long term and be financially sustainable and independent.
As the idea grew and evolved, Christine took over managing Blick while others in the group focused on their own creative businesses. Christine’s sister Rosy came on board as a volunteer initially to manage the financial side of the organisation. Together they have been managing Blick since 2007.
We started with £5000 in a warehouse in the city centre before securing startup funding from Ulster University and Belfast City Council to move into our Malone Studios where we then worked to build a financially sustainable social enterprise model that allows us to support creatives with space, services and support without relying on funding long term.
Now we operate as a non-profit, social purpose offering shared and private studio space to more than 65 creatives across 3 buildings. We also provide virtual office services and run different events and projects to help support creat

Looking back before we move into a new month at some of our best bits of 2025!

Jan 27

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Looking back before we move into a new month at some of our best bits of 2025!