The History of Hill Street Studios
46 Hill Street is one of our two Cathedral Quarter Studios based in the Belfast city centre. Hill Street was first depicted on a Belfast map in 1757 that was originally named Pott-House Lane. The narrow and cobbled street runs between Talbot Street and Waring Street and original housed a pottery shop. By the mid-to-late 19th century there were many publics houses that replaced foundries and houses.
In 2003, Hill Street was lined with new paving stones which was the start of a street landscaping programme. This programme was completed in 2004 with the opening of Custom House Square.
Cathedral Quarter is generally referred to as a cultural quarter due to the growth of arts and culture based business and organisations that reside within the area. Before this growth, Hill Street and nearby locations were appealing due to their low rent and central location.
45-49 Hill Street is a three story warehouse type building with Diocletian windows and a symmetrical three bay elevation. Blick Studios resides on the upper floor or 46 Hill Street and is made up of an open plan ground floor which houses two offices and four deskspaces, as well as a lounge, kitchen and two WCs. There is also an attic style mezzanine which houses a further fifteen deskspaces and skylights which let in plenty of natural light for our residents.
Share article:
Thanks again to everyone who came along to @stephaniesaloli`s creative talk last Wednesday evening and to Stephanie for giving such a great talk with so many insights and lessons for emerging creatives, as always we will be doing a wee event write up over coming weeks of the key lessons!
Nov 14
This week we have been thrilled to have been able to help with @belfastdesignwk and @the_design_salon `s Sustainable Pop-up Design Museum as part of the RE(act) Festival by the @linenquarter in the Europa Hotel today and tomorrow!
If you are attending any events at the festival or just passing by you can pop by to take a look at the Pop-up Design Museum on the 2nd floor!
The Pop-up Design Museum feature 5 local designers incorporating sustainability into their work
- Sam Lynas Co-founder of @get.haru @helpandreuse a tech startup focused on circular fashion
- Azhar Murtuza Founder of @born_maverick a food innovation company
- Stéphanie Heckman @stephaniesaloli a graphic recorder and visual facilitator focusing on working on climate and sustainability events
- Lee Robb founder of Positive Carrickfergus and Co-founder of Carrick Greengrocers @carrickgrocers
- Emily McIlwaine @emtextiles Woven Designer and Horticulturalist
You can also read fab interviews with each of them on sustainability and their design practice over on the Belfast Design Week Website www.belfastdesignweek.com
Nov 12
Thanks to everyone who joined us last Wednesday evening for our final creative talk of the year with the wonderful Stephanie Heckman sharing her creative story!
Nov 11
We are so excited through our @the_design_salon collab as part of the �@linenquarter `s �RE[act] Festival 2024 to have Learning Experience Designer Peter Worth join us for a workshop on November 13th, 3-4.30pm in the Europa Hotel.
Peter works at the intersection of design thinking, professional learning, leadership, and culture change. Consulting globally and based in Northern Ireland, Peter’s work focuses on helping teams to elevate local brilliance and use the mindsets of human-centred design to create change so their users can thrive. In recent years, he has worked closely with the Stanford d.school and Catalyst.
Informed by his background in education, Peter has developed a design practice that balances analytical and creative problem-solving. His belief that great progress can be made by taking the time to listen first has positioned him to guide people through their initial discomfort with design to discover skills they did not know they had and to help educators recognize their power in the transformation of schools as a part of a larger story of impact. In addition, Peter works with K12 schools, universities, businesses, and non-profit organizations to promote local innovation.
Spaces are limited so find out more and grab your free ticket on the events page on our website (link in profile)!
Nov 8
## NEW SOUTH BELFAST STUDIOS ##
We have recently moved our South Belfast Studios and our new studios at 65 Great Northern Street are now open!
Located off the Lisburn Road in a great location with lots of natural light it offers a mix of private and shared studio space.
We only have a couple of dedicated desks left, if you would like more information or to arrange a viewing please get in touch with christine@blickstudios.org or visit our website (link in profile)
Nov 6
Pollen Studios + Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of “Palette Perspectives” by Blick resident Emanuela Mae Agrini @emanuela_mae_agrini_art
The event will take place on November 7, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at Pollen’s gallery space located at 7 North Street, Belfast. As part of the Belfast Late Night Art event, this evening will showcase a collection of portrait paintings and fashion illustrations, exploring creativity and individual expression through various subjects and styles.
Nov 5
Last chance to book for tomorrow night`s creative talk with Blick Hill St resident Stephanie Heckman sharing her creative story as a graphic recorder and visual facilitator who translates real-time conversations into hand-drawn visual summaries at events and conferences globally including UN climate change negotiations!
Book through our website (link in profile) 🌟 🌟 🌟
Nov 5
Another chance to check out the interview we did with Stephanie @stephaniesaloli who is sharing her story at our next Creative Talk on Wednesday evening!
Sign up on our website to hear her story in-person!
Nov 4
Ahead of her creative talk next Wednesday evening we thought we would re-share this interview we did with Stéphanie Heckman one of our Hill St residents earlier this year! You can read the full blog on our website (link in profile)
Stephanie will be sharing her creative story next Wednesday 6th November at 7pm in our Hill St studios, you can sign up for your free ticket to hear her story on our website (link in profile)
Nov 1
Just 1 week until our next creative talk with Blick Hill St resident Stephanie Heckman sharing her creative story as a graphic recorder and visual facilitator who translates real-time conversations into hand-drawn visual summaries at events and conferences globally including UN climate change negotiations!
Book your free ticket through our website (link in profile)
Oct 30
As part of our work with @the_design_salon we have been helping to curate the 3rd Pop Up Design Museum on the 12th & 13th November at The Europa Hotel as part of the RE[act] Festival @linenquarter this November 12th-14th to create a more sustainable Belfast.
The Pop Up Design Museum will themed on "Sustainability." You`ll learn about 5 local designers incorporating sustainability in different ways into their practices and we hope you`ll leave inspired and full of ideas for your own life and work.
We also have a very special workshop - "Design thinking (and doing) for sustainability" - with Learning Experience Designer Peter Worth.
We`ll be sharing more information about the pop up museum and workshop in the lead up to RE[act] and you can visit reactfestival.co.uk to discover the full programme of events.
#reactfestival2024
https://blickstudios.org/projects/pop-up-design-museum/
Oct 30
First in person meeting in our Great Northern Street Studios with our fab Nurture Program participants @kitschsistersbelfast @bethanysmillican and @verahylands who we will introduce you to properly over the coming weeks! Looking forward to working with them all on their creative ideas over the next 8 months!
Oct 29
Just over a week until our next creative talk with Blick Hill St resident Stéphanie Heckman a graphic recorder and visual facilitator sharing her story!
Stephanie will be sharing her journey as a creative entrepreneur and how she came to do the work she does. She will share the highs and lows of her journey and what she has learned along the way. She will also share her advice for others on a similar path and for artists and creatives on how to generate an income from their creativity. Stephanie will also share with us some examples of her work including her work for UN Climate Change negotiations.
Event Date(s): November 6, 2024
Event Time: 7.00 - 8.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
For more info and to sign up, visit our website (link in profile)
Oct 29
Our next creative talk is on Wed 6th November at 7pm in our Hill St studios with graphic recorder and visual facilitator Stéphanie Heckman sharing her story.
Stephanie will talk about how she set up her creative business. Her journey so far as a creative entrepreneur, the highs and lows, what she has learned along the way, advice for others on a similar path and for artists and creatives in general on how to generate an income from their creativity.
There`s more info about Stéphanie below!
Stéphanie Heckman - @stephaniesaloli
Graphic Recorder & Visual Facilitator
Stéphanie Heckman, Dutch originally but based in Northern Ireland, works internationally at conferences as a graphic recorder and visual facilitator. In this role she translates in real-time collective conversations into hand-drawn visual summaries that distill the essence of both content and undercurrent. Her visual summaries transcend language and accessibility barriers, and communicate key takeaways of complex discussions in an engaging, visual way to a much larger audience than those originally present.
Active since 2018, Stéphanie has worked with close to 200 organisations, but focuses on supporting those advancing climate action, peace and reconciliation and leadership development. Since 2020, she collaborates regularly with UN Climate Change and numerous NGOs in the global climate space. She has trail blazed a way for the field of graphic recording to support climate negotiations at the highest level and has led teams of graphic recorders to cover sessions during three consecutive COPs (annual UN climate summits) and related events. In recent years she has trained up two cohorts of graphic recorders through her Visual Practice Apprenticeship Programme, focusing both on the craft of visual practice and business skills as a creative professional.
https://www.stephanieheckman.com/
EVENT DETAILS
DATE: Wed 6th Nov
TIME: 7PM
VENUE: Blick Studios, 46 Hill Street
You can book your free ticket on our website (link in profile)
Oct 28
Our next creative talk is on Wed 6th November at 7pm in our Hill St studios with graphic recorder and visual facilitator Stéphanie Heckman sharing her story.
Stephanie will talk about how she set up her creative business. Her journey so far as a creative entrepreneur, the highs and lows, what she has learned along the way, advice for others on a similar path and for artists and creatives in general on how to generate an income from their creativity.
There`s more info about Stéphanie below!
Stéphanie Heckman
Graphic Recorder & Visual Facilitator
Stéphanie Heckman, Dutch originally but based in Northern Ireland, works internationally at conferences as a graphic recorder and visual facilitator. In this role she translates in real-time collective conversations into hand-drawn visual summaries that distill the essence of both content and undercurrent. Her visual summaries transcend language and accessibility barriers, and communicate key takeaways of complex discussions in an engaging, visual way to a much larger audience than those originally present.
Active since 2018, Stéphanie has worked with close to 200 organisations, but focuses on supporting those advancing climate action, peace and reconciliation and leadership development. Since 2020, she collaborates regularly with UN Climate Change and numerous NGOs in the global climate space. She has trail blazed a way for the field of graphic recording to support climate negotiations at the highest level and has led teams of graphic recorders to cover sessions during three consecutive COPs (annual UN climate summits) and related events. In recent years she has trained up two cohorts of graphic recorders through her Visual Practice Apprenticeship Programme, focusing both on the craft of visual practice and business skills as a creative professional.
https://www.stephanieheckman.com/
EVENT DETAILS
DATE: Wed 6th Nov
TIME: 7PM
VENUE: Blick Studios, 46 Hill Street
You can book your free ticket on our website (link in profile)
Oct 21
We are very excited to announce our speaker for our first Nurture Creative Talk on 6th November - Stéphanie Heckman @stephaniesaloli - Graphic Recorder & Visual Facilitator.
Stephanie will be sharing her journey as a creative entrepreneur and how she came to do the work she does. She will share the highs and lows of her journey and what she has learned along the way. She will also share her advice for others on a similar path and for artists and creatives on how to generate an income from their creativity. Stephanie will also share with us some examples of her work, including her work for UN Climate Change negotiations.
ABOUT STEPHANIE:
Stéphanie Heckman, Dutch originally but based in Northern Ireland, works internationally at conferences as a graphic recorder and visual facilitator. In this role she translates in real-time collective conversations into hand-drawn visual summaries that distill the essence of both content and undercurrent. Her visual summaries transcend language and accessibility barriers, and communicate key takeaways of complex discussions in an engaging, visual way to a much larger audience than those originally present.
Active since 2018, Stéphanie has worked with close to 200 organisations, but focuses on supporting those advancing climate action, peace and reconciliation and leadership development. Since 2020, she collaborates regularly with UN Climate Change and numerous NGOs in the global climate space. She has trail blazed a way for the field of graphic recording to support climate negotiations at the highest level and has led teams of graphic recorders to cover sessions during three consecutive COPs (annual UN climate summits) and related events. In recent years she has trained up two cohorts of graphic recorders through her Visual Practice Apprenticeship Programme, focusing both on the craft of visual practice and business skills as a creative professional.
https://www.stephanieheckman.com/
EVENT DETAILS:
DATE: Wed 6th November
TIME: 7 - 8pm
VENUE: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LB
For more info and to book your FREE ticket visit our website (link in profile) 🌟 🌟
Oct 4
Phew almost there! Not long now, until we properly open our new South Belfast studios, we`re excited to share details of our new space with you (and get our weekends back!)
It has been an amazing journey, and hopefully, you will love it as much as we do!
I’m off to Hong Kong next week for a couple of weeks for our Design Your Life Installation so while we have welcomed some of our previous Malone residents into the space, we are holding off on opening properly and sharing full details of the space until I get back.
However if you are interested in taking a space (we will have 1 small 1-2 person office and a few dedicated desks available) from the start of Nov email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing!
Oct 3
It`s the start of a new month and we are super excited to kick start the month by announcing our next Creative Talk which will be as part of our new Nurture Program with a local creative sharing their story. Speaker details coming soon!
Sign up now via the link in our profile for your free ticket! ✨️ 🌟
Oct 1
Last Monday, as part of @the_design_salon international collaborative project `Design Your Life`, we helped host an online workshop with a
global audience of Hong Kong students and online attendees from Italy, USA, and England!
These are some of the lovely zines created by the Hong Kong students, under the supervision of @kyliekai and @jeannie_rabbithole
Each exercise was under 5mins long to encourage personal reflection, get the participants thinking about their habits and choices and health and wellbeing and spark ideas, and get things down on a page without overthinking!
We will have more Design Your Life content over the coming weeks as we gear up for the festival itself and our installation in Hong Kong later this month!
Sep 30
Applications for our new creative support program Nurture close tomorrow at midnight! If you have a creative idea, don`t miss your chance for space and support to help make it happen!
- 8 months program
- free workspace
- mentoring support
- workshops
- talks
- resources
All to support you to make your creative idea a reality!
Sep 26
