- - 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/

@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/

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

BLICK RESOURCES FOR CREATIVES -  Creative Practice 12-month Self-Reflection Exercise

The perfect activity for a miserable January evening. Some useful questions to help you reflect on and plan for your creative practice at the start of a new year

What would you do in your creative practice in the next 12 months if you weren’t afraid?

If you did this what could you learn about yourself? how could you grow even if you aren’t successful?

What are the first steps you could take to make this a reality?

What have you learnt about yourself from your creative practice over the last 12 months?

What do you most complain about in your current creative practice?

If you weren’t allowed to complain about this thing anymore, what action would you have to take?

Which activities, if doubled, would make your creative practice meaningfully better?

Which activities, if halved, would make your creative practice meaningfully better?

Downloadable PDF available on the resources section of our website link below and in profile

https://blickstudios.org/resources/13155/

Super cosy in our Hill St studios this evening working under the eaves with the sound of the rain on the roof 🌧 🌧

2016 looking back it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years. A lot of changes with moves to new studios and so many events and projects and people in the last 10 years!

Our studios:

Back in 2016 we had studios both in 52 and 46 Hill Street - it was lovely to share no 52 with the yogis! We also had a space up in Derry/Londonderry in Ebrington and our Studios on the Malone Road.

It was a busy year for events working with lots of wonderful creative people in Northern Ireland including:

- Blick Academy for Creative Startups

- Share 6 inspirational talks for creative entrepreneurs

- 25 Pop-Up shop for designers

- The Faculty workshops and courses

- Creative Business Bootcamp

- The second year of Belfast Design Week (pic from Designedby organised by Jessica Fok for Belfast Design Week)

- Graduate residency programme

We are still involved with some of these events which is lovely 10 years later!

Our latest roundup of opportunities for creatives in Northern Ireland

01. Four Nations International Fund
Arts and culture thrive on international collaboration and exchange. The Four Nations International Fund helps artists and creative practitioners from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales collaborate with each other and with partners around the world.

02. Visual Arts Ireland Building a Sustainable Practice and Career
Catherine Hemelryk shares her experience on building a sustainable practice  and career relationships both within the art world and beyond. This webinar will take a practical and doable approach to the topic and she brings her experience of what to do and what not to do!

03. Sunflowers Sellers Market 
Applications are open for the second Sunflower Sellers Market on Sunday 8th March at Sunflower Public House

04. Creative Ireland – Shared Island grant calls 

The Creative Ireland Programme is delighted to announce three new funding calls to a combined value of €4.6 million supporting creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland.

05. Reclaim the Agenda – International Women’s Day 2026 poster competition
The theme for 2026 is ‘Strength in Solidarity’. There are two age categories 12 -17yrs and 18 – 25yrs The winner will receive £100 prize and two runners-up will receive £50 each. Deadline for entries is January 31st, 2026

06. Ards and North Down Individual Artist Grant 
What is available?
A maximum grant of £250 is available.
DEADLINE: Monday 9 February 2026, 11:59pm (sharp)
 

07. Artist Development Session: A Funding Practical Workshop (Hybrid Event)
How to get your arts funding application over the line.
Date: Monday 26 January
Time: 2-5pm
Venue: Hybrid event online and Island Arts Centre, The Island, Lisburn, BT27 4RL

Full listings including links on our website blog link below and in profile!

https://blickstudios.org/blog/january-creative-roundup/

6 Key Lessons From Juliette El Fouly Founder of Le Contour Contemporary Candle Company’s Creative Talk Last March

Juliette founder of @lecontourcandles shared her creative story with us back in March last year. Here are 6 Key Lessons from her creative talk to give you fresh inspiration ✨️

 

1. You are not your business

To cope with the inevitable hard times when starting a creative business try to keep some separation between you and your business and don’t over-identify with it.
 

2. Use every business experience as a personal learning opportunity

Ask yourself what you can learn personally from every experience. How can you grow? How can you improve? How can this experience help you? Make you stronger, wiser, happier, a better person?
 

3.Diversify your income streams

Try not to rely on the income from one product or service, it can leave your business vulnerable. For example Juliette spoke of her initial product being recreated and mass produced by a chinese manufacturer and how she lost almost all of her business overnight. This led her to make the decision to diversify her income streams to different products as well as candle-making workshops.
 

4. Invest in your branding and packaging

Particularly if you are developing a product for a saturated market like candles. Make the purchase of your products an experience and help your product stand out from the crowd.

5. Realise early on that you can’t do everything

Part of successfully running a creative business is knowing when to stop or step back or take a break. There is always more you could do, so you need to set some boundaries around your business and accept that you can’t do everything.

6. Setbacks are inevitable. Being able to pick yourself up and try again is key

Being resilient and able to cope with challenges and setbacks and pick yourself up and try again is key to successfully running a creative business. Juliette shared her experience of losing almost all of her business overnight when a Chinese manufacturer copied her product. After this she had to either give up, or accept her current situation, pick herself up and use it as a learning experience and start again.

- - 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: 

https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/

Easing into the new year and making plans, by looking back at some of our favourite bits from 2025!

01. Nurture
One of our favourite bits of 2025 was our Nurture Programme where thanks to the kind support of Belfast City Council we were able to support 3 emerging artists.

02. Creative Talks
At Blick we always love hearing the stories of other creatives. Last year we heard the stories of the following creatives.
- Ian Pitt Founder and Creative Director of Me,Him&Her Design Studio
- Juliette El Fouly Founder of Le Contour Contemporary Candle Company
- Illustrator Lauren Kelso
- Artist & Illustrator Danni Simpson
- Ciaran Crudden Creative Director of The Last Brand

03. Creative Workshops
We hosted some fab creative workshops with some brilliant local creatives last year on topics including:
- How to DIY Your Brand with Laura Whitehouse founder of Mighty Fine Design
- Strategic Goal Setting with visual practitioner Stéphanie Heckman
- Adventures in ChatGPT and Creative Audio  with Graeme Watson and Katya Buryakova founders of Homewerk

04. One Bite Studio Visit
In April 2025 we had a lovely few days touring around Belfast with Alan and Sarah from One Bite Design who we met in Hong Kong in October 2024.

05. Creative Brunch with Innovate UK Business Growth
An inspiring brunch event for creatives in our Hill St studios.

06. Creative Adventure Club with Homewerk
We loved collaborating with our friends at Homewerk for this new project.

07. Ulster University Enterprise Placement Year Retail Ready Fieldtrip 
In October we also had the pleasure of organising and hosting this for a group of creative students.

08. Arts Council of Northern Ireland Finance Fair
In November we were delighted to deliver one-to-one 30 minute sessions helping artists to take control of their finances.

09. Womenfolk
In 2025 we started a great new collaboration with @kitschsistersbelfast

10. Irish Design Week
We worked on a @belfastdesignwk project for @irish_designweek in collaboration with onebite design and @futureislandisland to showcase creative projects and stories from the islands of Rathlin, Ireland and Hong Kong at an evening of design talks and exhibition

Happy Christmas from all of us at Blick!

For anyone who hasn’t finished (or started) their Christmas shopping our latest Creative Roundup features 12 markets and shops you still have time to visit to support local creatives this Christmas

01. Portview Christmas Market
Opening dates & times:

Friday 19th December 6 – 10pm

Saturday 20th December 12 – 4pm

Venue: 310 Newtonards rd, Belfast, Belfast, Antrim BT4 1HE

 

02. Cathedral Quarter Christmas Sunday Art Market

Date: Sunday 21st December 10am – 3pm

Venue: Hill Street, Cathedral Quarter Belfast

 

03. St George’s Market

Opening dates &  times:

Monday 22 Dec 9–3

Tuesday 23 Dec 9–3

Wednesday 24 Dec 8–2

 

04. Belfast Christmas Market
Runs to December 22nd at Belfast City Hall, open Mon-Wed (10am-8pm), Thu-Sat (10am-10pm), and Sun (12pm-6pm).

 

05. Born & Bred
Unique gifts and accessories, created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland based on Ann Street, Belfast.

 

06. Story Box
Storybox, a Belfast-based social enterprise, sources and sells ethical gifts from local makers, social enterprises, and sustainable brands

Address: Storybox Shop, Unit D2 Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 1HE

 

07. Hunter Paper Co
Hunter Paper Co. is an independent business based in Belfast, Northern Ireland producing luxury letterpress stationery, greetings cards and more

Address: 255 Upper Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 3JF

 

08. Maven
Belfast shop features modern furniture, lighting, homeware and gifts from some of the world’s leading design brands as well as smaller independent makers.

Address: The Bank, 364 Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 6GL

 
09. Craft NI Gallery Shop
Shop from some of Northern Ireland’s many talented designer-makers!

Address: 115, 119 Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1FF

10. Belfast School of Art Artshop
Open until 20th December

Address: York Street, Belfast


11. Duncairn Art Shop
Drop in to shop amazing and affordable prints, T-shirts, unique crochet creations, cards and jewellery amongst other things

Address: Duncairn Avenue, Belfast, Co Antrim BT14 6BP

12. Wrapped up
Unique gifts, souvenirs, jewellery and art. Locally made by artists across Ireland.

Addresses: Lisburn and Ormeau Road and Castlecourt

Thanks to Rachael Armstrong @rachaelpaintsweddings one of our Great Northern Street residents for painting this lovely Christmas window in our Great Northern Street studios!