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Our Aims & Values

Blick exists to support and inspire creatives in Northern Ireland through affordable workspaces, business services and shared learning.

Our Aims

To provide working spaces for creatives outside the home to encourage productivity, creativity, connection and better work/life balance.
To provide affordable workspace for creatives in beautiful buildings with character in Belfast.
To offer fully serviced workspace without commitment that takes the hassle and risk out of renting premises and allows our resident creatives to concentrate on their creative practices.
To bring together creatives to encourage community, connection, collaboration and peer learning within our workspace and events and activities.
To provide meaningful support for creatives in Belfast to inspire and support them to follow their dreams, gain inspiration and motivation and meet and connect with other like-minded creatives.
To remain a financially sustainable and independent organisation, able to provide long-term support and facilities and adapt quickly and flexibly to the needs of creatives.

Blick Summer Meet 2023

Our Values

INDEPENDENT
To remain an independent, financially sustainable social enterprise.
ENTREPRENEURIAL
To maximise opportunities and be flexible and business-minded in our approach so we remain financially independent and sustainable.
INCLUSIVE
Be inclusive and open-minded to new ideas and new people, and be an organisation open to everyone.
INDUSTRY FOCUSED
Remain focused on the needs of creatives.
INNOVATIVE
Be innovative and forward-thinking to provide sustainable solutions to the needs of creatives.

Belfast Design Week Photo credit: Joe Laverty

Some great insights from our May Creative Talk with artist and illustrator @dannisimpsonart

Jul 25

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Some great insights from our May Creative Talk with artist and illustrator @dannisimpsonart

Looking back to our May Creative Talk with artist and illustrator @dannisimpsonart

Jul 23

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Looking back to our May Creative Talk with artist and illustrator @dannisimpsonart

- - AVAILABLE WORKSPACE - BLICK SHARED STUDIOS, SOUTH BELFAST - -

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

– South Belfast location just off the Lisburn Road with lots of shops, coffee shops and bars within walking distance

– £150 per dedicated desk with allocated storage all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities, broadband) no VAT

– 24 hour access

– Breakout area

– 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 for more info (Link below and in profile)
https://blickstudios.org/locations/great-northern-street/

Jul 21

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Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives

01. Cathedral Quarter Art Market

Applications are now open for the Cathedral Quarter Art Market – a new Sunday market celebrating handmade and independently designed work, set in the heart of Belfast’s most creative district.
Event Details:
Location: Hill Street, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
Time: 10am – 3pm
Pitch Fee: £60 (includes your gazebo and trading licence)
Dates: Every Sunday from 27 July – 28 September
Spaces: Strictly limited to 24 traders per week

02. Tools for Togetherness – Tender Opportunity

Tools for Togetherness seeks to commission a series of pilot projects based around the concept of an ‘Artist-led Library of interventions; as shared Citizen Resource’. They are excited to empower creatives to create thoughtful interventions which align with fostering community togetherness in public spaces.
Closing date: Friday 22 August 2025 at 12 noon

03. Hawk’s Well Theatre Artist in Residence 2025

Project Lighthouse is a 12-month cross-border, cross-community peacebuilding project. You’ll work with young adults (aged 18–25) to co-create a powerful performance and legacy work in two border locations:
• Sligo (ROI)
• Derry/Londonderry (NI)
Delivery Period: September 2025 – September 2026
What to Submit:
A quotation and proposal
A budget breakdown (quotes considered, max €20,000 + VAT)
Contact: director@hawkswell.ie
Deadline: August 1st 2025, 5pm

04. Northern Ireland Screen – Camera Trainee (CINE Programme)

Location: Various production locations across Northern Ireland
Salary: £12.60 per hour (Real Living Wage)
Contract: Fixed-term training placements (non-continuous)
Hours: 40–60 hours per week, depending on production schedule
Closing Date: Friday 25th July 2025 at 1pm

05. Bring Your Own Art Art Show

This weekend in the Black Box Belfast and there’s still time to register and submit your work
Date: 20th July
Location: Black Box Belfast

Full listings including links on our website: https://blickstudios.org/blog/12766/

Jul 18

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Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives

01. Cathedral Quarter Art Market

Applications are now open for the Cathedral Quarter Art Market – a new Sunday market celebrating handmade and independently designed work, set in the heart of Belfast’s most creative district.
Event Details:
Location: Hill Street, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
Time: 10am – 3pm
Pitch Fee: £60 (includes your gazebo and trading licence)
Dates: Every Sunday from 27 July – 28 September
Spaces: Strictly limited to 24 traders per week

02. Tools for Togetherness – Tender Opportunity

Tools for Togetherness seeks to commission a series of pilot projects based around the concept of an ‘Artist-led Library of interventions; as shared Citizen Resource’. They are excited to empower creatives to create thoughtful interventions which align with fostering community togetherness in public spaces.
Closing date: Friday 22 August 2025 at 12 noon

03. Hawk’s Well Theatre Artist in Residence 2025

Project Lighthouse is a 12-month cross-border, cross-community peacebuilding project. You’ll work with young adults (aged 18–25) to co-create a powerful performance and legacy work in two border locations:
• Sligo (ROI)
• Derry/Londonderry (NI)
Delivery Period: September 2025 – September 2026
What to Submit:
A quotation and proposal
A budget breakdown (quotes considered, max €20,000 + VAT)
Contact: director@hawkswell.ie
Deadline: August 1st 2025, 5pm

04. Northern Ireland Screen – Camera Trainee (CINE Programme)

Location: Various production locations across Northern Ireland
Salary: £12.60 per hour (Real Living Wage)
Contract: Fixed-term training placements (non-continuous)
Hours: 40–60 hours per week, depending on production schedule
Closing Date: Friday 25th July 2025 at 1pm

05. Bring Your Own Art Art Show

This weekend in the Black Box Belfast and there’s still time to register and submit your work
Date: 20th July
Location: Black Box Belfast

Full listings including links on our website: https://blickstudios.org/blog/12766/

To celebrate the end of our Nurture Creative Incubation programme and its participants we have put together a small exhibition of the interviews they did for us and some examples of their work in our Great Northern Street studios!

Jul 16

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To celebrate the end of our Nurture Creative Incubation programme and its participants we have put together a small exhibition of the interviews they did for us and some examples of their work in our Great Northern Street studios!

As we enter this quieter holiday period, today we are looking back to May, a fantastic busy month for us at Blick that included a creative talk with artist and illustrator Danni Simpson, conversations and catchups around Belfast Design Week. 2 fun-filled bank holidays and the end of our Nurture Programme and its final activities which included a fieldtrip visit to Maven and Bag of Bees design studio on the Lisburn Road, as well as a celebratory lunch (we forgot to take pics) and an exhibition and creative talks to celebrate the programme and its participants!

Jul 9

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As we enter this quieter holiday period, today we are looking back to May, a fantastic busy month for us at Blick that included a creative talk with artist and illustrator Danni Simpson, conversations and catchups around Belfast Design Week. 2 fun-filled bank holidays and the end of our Nurture Programme and its final activities which included a fieldtrip visit to Maven and Bag of Bees design studio on the Lisburn Road, as well as a celebratory lunch (we forgot to take pics) and an exhibition and creative talks to celebrate the programme and its participants!

Working from our lovely Great Northern Street Studios breakout space this evening on some plans for the rest of 2025. Lots of exciting things to come after the summer!

Jul 8

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Working from our lovely Great Northern Street Studios breakout space this evening on some plans for the rest of 2025. Lots of exciting things to come after the summer!

Looking back to some of my favourite bits from our Nurture Creative Incubation Programme which ran from October last year to the end of May. Including:

The end of programme talks and exhibition

Our group weekly peer mentoring sessions

Our group fieldtrip to Maven

Interviews with the participants Bethany Millican @bethanysmillican , Vera Hylands @verahylands and Grainne Mullan @point_angel_

A pic of us all together at the end of the programme!

I had such a great time working with all the participants at our weekly peer mentoring and monthly one-on-one sessions and at the monthly workshops with different creatives (such a good time I mostly forgot to get pics) and look forward to keeping in touch and seeing how they progress!

Jul 4

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Looking back to some of my favourite bits from our Nurture Creative Incubation Programme which ran from October last year to the end of May. Including:

The end of programme talks and exhibition

Our group weekly peer mentoring sessions

Our group fieldtrip to Maven

Interviews with the participants Bethany Millican @bethanysmillican , Vera Hylands @verahylands and Grainne Mullan @point_angel_

A pic of us all together at the end of the programme!

I had such a great time working with all the participants at our weekly peer mentoring and monthly one-on-one sessions and at the monthly workshops with different creatives (such a good time I mostly forgot to get pics) and look forward to keeping in touch and seeing how they progress!

Evening light ✨️

Jul 2

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Evening light ✨️

Putting together our new ‘Nurture Programme’ exhibition in our South Belfast studios last month!

Jul 2

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Putting together our new ‘Nurture Programme’ exhibition in our South Belfast studios last month!

Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives

01. £550,000 in funding available to support 5G-driven innovation in local industries

Organisations can apply for grants of between £50,000 and £100,000 for projects that make innovative use of 5G and other types of advanced wireless connectivity to deliver economic, social, and environmental impacts.

02. Cluster Acceleration Programme

Phase One Feasibility Study: Offers up to £55,000 to SME led networks consisting of a minimum of 8-10 SMEs, to scope out innovative collaborative projects with the potential to increase business competitiveness

Deadline: 15:00 on Friday, 25 July 2025.

03. National Lottery Major Individual Artist Awards (SIAP)

Major Individual Artist Awards are intended to create the circumstances in which established artists with national / international recognition may develop extended or ambitious work.
Four awards of up to £15,000 each are being offered in 2025/26.
Deadline: Friday 11th July, 2025, 12:00PM

04. Upscale Applications are Now Open!

Designed to accelerate your next stage of growth, Upscale offers direct access to insight, connections, and community you need to scale with confidence. As part of the nationally recognised cohort, you’ll also unlock lifetime access to an influential network of fellow founders and top-tier investors.

05. Technation Creo Applications Now Open!

Creo is for disabled founders and entrepreneurs innovating around disability. If you’re a founder who self-identifies as disabled or neurodiverse, or your company is innovating around disability or neurodiversity then apply now.

Full listings including links on the blog on our website (link in profile)

Jul 1

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Our next Blick `Meet the Team` video all about how the Blick team sisters Christine and Rosy find working together!

Jun 27

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Our next Blick 'Meet the Team' video all about how the Blick team sisters Christine and Rosy find working together!

In our latest `Meet the Resident Interview` we get to know Sarah Baecher @art_by_sarebear an artist from the U.S. and one of our latest residents in our Cotton Court studios!

You can read her full interview on our website link below and in profile: https://blickstudios.org/blog/12724/

Jun 26

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Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives

01. FutureStage XR: XR Training for the Performing Arts
What participants will gain:
- A clear understanding of XR technology and its creative possibilities
- Foundational skills in Unity for XR development
- Insight into crafting compelling stories in immersive media
- A practical roadmap for applying XR to new or existing projects

Participants who complete the course will also be eligible to apply for the Future Foundation Technical Mentorship Programme. This opportunity pairs artists with XR experts to develop and test a creative concept. The programme includes:
- Access to XR equipment and facilities
- A training support grant of £1500
- A chance to showcase work in progress.
Further details about the technical mentorship programme will be announced later in the year.

Deadline: 1st August

02. Digital Art Studios Residencies
The DAS Home Residency provides four months for you to develop a project of your choice, expanding your skills and practice. Open to artists across Ireland and the UK, we welcome proposals from artists whose work employs digital technologies to challenge artistic boundaries and reimagine the cultural landscape.
Deadline: 27th July at midnight

03. August Craft Month 2025 exhibition, (Un)Bound, is now accepting applications
Craft NI are delighted to welcome applications to take part in the 2025 August Craft Month Exhibition! This exhibition will have a number of prizes aimed at supporting makers at different stages of their careers and will take place during August as part of the August Craft Month celebrations, held in the Craft NI Gallery,
Deadline: 27th June

04. Belfast City Council Business Growth Support – Go Succeed Grow: Creating Video Content on Your Smartphone
Date: 27th June
Time: 10 - 12.30pm
Venue: Innovation Factory

05. Magnetic 4 Artist Residencies
Magnetic is a joint Franco-UK initiative that brings together ten institutions to create a programme of artist residencies of 2 to 3 months each.

Full listings including links on the blog on our website (link below and in profile) https://blickstudios.org/blog/12721/

Jun 24

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Over the last couple of weeks, we have been working with Queen`s and Ulster University on their DesignLink collaborative design sprint project to help us come up with some new ideas for relaunching @belfastdesignwk

For the project emerging designers Hollie and Deirdre came up with some great ideas for us that were showcased on Friday at Queen`s University.

We`re looking forward to seeing what we can do with these ideas next and seeing how we can implement them into @belfastdesignwk

Jun 23

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Over the last couple of weeks, we have been working with Queen's and Ulster University on their DesignLink collaborative design sprint project to help us come up with some new ideas for relaunching @belfastdesignwk

For the project emerging designers Hollie and Deirdre came up with some great ideas for us that were showcased on Friday at Queen's University.

We're looking forward to seeing what we can do with these ideas next and seeing how we can implement them into @belfastdesignwk

Our second Blick `Meet the Team` video, all about where the idea for Blick came from!

Jun 18

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Our second Blick 'Meet the Team' video, all about where the idea for Blick came from!

Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives

01. Illustrators Exhibition Open Call

The Ballaí Bana Gallery in Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, Belfast seeks submissions from EMERGING ILLUSTRATORS for wall-based artwork for either solo or group exhibitions for our 2026 programme.
Successful artists will be paid a fee of £300 and there is a 20% gallery commission charged on sold artwork.
Deadline: 16th June

02. Future Makers

Established in 2009, Future Makers is one of the largest prize-funded award programmes in Europe, creating a platform to showcase talent, as well as providing much needed financial support. Divided into student and emerging practitioner categories, Future Makers supports this crucial time in the career path of young designers.
Deadline: 20th June

03. Horizon Europe Pump Priming collaboration opportunities 2025

Innovate UK and British Academy are pleased to announce funding schemes for Horizon Europe Pump Priming Grants, open to all disciplines. Successful applicants will have access to grant funding of up to £5,000
Deadline: 15th July 5pm

04. An Introduction to Business Planning workshop
This insightful half day session will give you practical knowledge, tips and advice on what to put into your business plan and will also get you thinking about the bigger picture, including your strategic vision, mission and more!
Date: 19th June
Time: 9.30 - 2.30pm
Venue: University of Atypical

05. Call Out for Creative Connections Cluster Facilitators – Creative Connections 2025/26

Are you a creative practitioner or educator with a love for creativity? The Creative Connections Shared Island Pilot Programme needs you to join their team

Full listings including links on our blog (link in profile)

Jun 13

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Following a brilliant 8-months at the end of May we sadly said goodbye to our Nurture Incubation Program Participants
- Artist and Illustrator @bethanysmillican
- Artist and Content Creator @verahylands
- Textile Designer-maker and Founder of Kitsch Sisters Grainne Mullan @kitschsistersbelfast @point_angel_

We have loved working with them over the past 8 months and having them be part of Blick and wish them all the best for the future with their creative businesses!

This programme was kindly supported by Belfast City Council

Jun 11

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Following a brilliant 8-months at the end of May we sadly said goodbye to our Nurture Incubation Program Participants
- Artist and Illustrator @bethanysmillican
- Artist and Content Creator @verahylands
- Textile Designer-maker and Founder of Kitsch Sisters Grainne Mullan @kitschsistersbelfast @point_angel_

We have loved working with them over the past 8 months and having them be part of Blick and wish them all the best for the future with their creative businesses!

This programme was kindly supported by Belfast City Council

- - BLICK VIRTUAL OFFICE 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 or £200 annually for UK based creative businesses

- 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 or £300 annually for UK based creative businesses

- 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.

Blick is a social enterprise meaning profits from our virtual office service go towards events and workshops and programmes of support for creatives in Belfast!
�
For more info email rosy@blickstudios.org or visit our website (link below and in profile) https://blickstudios.org/virtual-services/

Jun 9

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GOAL SETTING RESOURCES

Our resources for emerging creatives this month are all about goal setting, starting with some basic information on what goals and in particular what SMART goals are. We put together these resources following a brilliant strategic goal setting workshop we hosted in collaboration with Stephanie Heckman earlier this year. The workshop really reminded me of the importance of having a vision for the future and regularly setting achievable goals to help you get there. This is especially important I think in the very early days when you don`t yet have a lot of regular clients and work and it can be hard to stay focused, �keep yourself moving forward and stay motivated.

We have added some initial goal setting resources on the `Creative Resources` section of our website, including a goal setting template and some tips on how to actually go about making the goals you set happen. Let us know what works for you and if there`s anything you think would help other creatives that we should add!

Link below and in profile

https://blickstudios.org/resources/goal-setting/

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May 30

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