It`s December! Christmas is coming, one of the most important seasons for many local creatives who sell direct to consumers! fortunately there are loads of amazing ways you can buy local this year and make it a successful season for the local creatives who rely on this time of year to make an income. Here`s a list of some of our favourites! Let us know of any we missed!

MARKETS & EVENTS

Belfast Potters Market
Location: 2 Royal Ave
Date: Fri 1st & Sat 2nd Dec

Belfast School of Art Christmas Market
Date: Sat 2nd Dec

Arts for all Christmas Craft Fair
Location: Cityside Retail Park
Date: Sat 2nd Dec
Time: 11am - 4pm

Queen Street Studios Open Studios & Mulled Wine
Date: Sat 2nd Dec
Time: 12 - 6pm

Vault Christmas Market
Location: Carlisle Memorial Church
Date: Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd Dec
Time: 12 - 5pm

Belfast Flea
Location: Sunflower Pub
Date: Sun 3rd Dec
Time: 12 - 4pm

Pollen Studios Postcard Exhibition & Art Market
Date: Thu 7th Dec
Time: 6 - 9pm

The Boundary Collective Print Edition
Location: Boundary Tap Room
Date: Thu 7th Dec
Time: 6-9.30pm

Belfast Ceramics Studio
Location: Beersbridge Road
Date: Sat 9th Dec
Time: 12 - 6pm

Twilight Market
Location: 2 Royal Ave
Dates: Thu 7th, 14th & 21st Dec
Time: 5-9pm

Belfast City Hall Christmas Market
Dates: Daily until 22nd Dec

Portview Christmas Market
Location: Banana Block
Dates: Sat 16th Dec 6 - 10pm, Sun 17th Dec 12 - 4pm

St Georges Market
Dates: Various

Maven Mini Mart
Location: 52 Hill Street
Dates: Fri to Sun from Fri 1st Dec
Times: 10am - 5pm

SHOPS

Born & Bred – Unique gifts by NI artisans

Craft NI Gallery – Design-led contemporary craft

Wrapped Up – Some of Ireland’s best contemporary creative products.

Belfast School of Art Shop – Current students & graduates artwork.

Hunter Paper Co – Stationery

Maven – Homeware & furniture

ONLINE

Story Box NI – Gifts from local social enterprises and small businesses

Seaside books – Books by Irish authors

Shesells sanctuary – Artist led collective to raise money for victims of domestic violence

Gallery 545 – Online gallery selling NI artworks

Iris Magazine Store – Online independent magazine store

Full list with links on our blog link in bio

Beautiful start to the week in Belfast with blue skies and sun! just look at the light on our Cotton Court studios at lunchtime today, and directly opposite is the beautiful Merchant Hotel, which is looking especially lovely and festive at the moment 🌞 🎄

#belfastcitycentre #belfastcity #belfastcathedralquarter #creativeworkspace #creativehub #studiospace

We`re delighted to announce our final creative speaker for Wednesday evening, our very own current graduate resident designer and illustrator Hannah Griffin!

SPEAKER 3 - HANNAH GRIFFIN - @griffinillustration

Hannah is our current Blick graduate resident and is an illustrator and designer from Belfast Hannah graduated last year, in Graphic design and Illustration at Ulster University. Hannah designs and sells her work based around her personal interests, mythology and nature. Hannah has been working over the last year on becoming a more established illustrator, building her brand and developing her personal style and has recently put together some new branding and artwork for our Womenfolk project as well as a series of cocktail inspired artworks.

You can get more info on all the creatives speaking and sign up for your free ticket on our website (link in profile)

EVENT DETAILS

Blick Autumn Meet

Wednesday: 22nd November
Time: 8.00pm - 9.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, Malone Road

#belfastcreatives #belfastsmallbusiness #creativejourney #creativestories #creativestartups #creativetalk

We are very pleased to announce our 2nd speaker for our creative talks and Meetup on Wednesday evening at 8pm in our Malone studios

ARTIST MICHAEL WINCHESTER

Michael is an artist living in Belfast, currently focusing on making as much art as possible and trying to get his work out there. Michael’s work is mostly referenced from pop culture or life. At the moment it’s heavily focused on Japanese pop culture.

We did an interview with Michael that you can find on our website here: https://blickstudios.org/.../meet-the-resident-artist.../

You can also see more of Michael’s work on instagram @michaelwinchester98

For more info on all the creatives sharing their stories and to book your free ticket visit our website link in profile or below https://blickstudios.org/events/blick-autumn-meet/

#creativestartups #artisttalks #artistsoninstagram #artisttalk #creativejourney #creativestories #creativeinspiration

Our next meetup and evening of talks for creatives is next Wednesday evening at 8pm in our Malone studios. We will have 3 amazing local creatives at diffferent stages of their careers sharing their stories and talking about perfectionism and the impact it has had on their work!

Speaker 1 - Benji Connell

Benji is an architecturally trained freelance illustrator and artist, with over 7 years of industry experience. Benji set up Concrete Clouds in summer 2019, having spent a number of years in architectural practice in London, scribbling and sketching, before deciding to set up his own illustration studio to focus on his passion and continue to scribble and sketch. Concrete Clouds had long ago been the name of Benji’s failed band; as attempts to become a rockstar didn’t quite pan out, the name was up for grabs and appropriately felt right for an architectural illustration studio.

Benji graduated with a Diploma in Architecture from the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, where he was nominated for the Bram Stoker Medal acknowledging the most imaginative work across the art school. In the years since, Benji became a Member of the Society of Architectural Illustration, the world’s oldest and most prestigious architectural illustration organisation.

Benji is an avid traveller and urban sketcher and was a 2018 recipient of the John Kinross Scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, commissioned to draw and produce artwork inspired by an extended stay in Florence. He has exhibited work internationally, from Edinburgh to Sao Paulo. His work has also featured in a number of publications for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, in addition to Perspective magazine and The Big Conversation.

@concreteclouds__

https://concreteclouds.co.uk/

Find out more and book your tickets on our website link in our profile ✨️

#creativebusiness
#creativestories
#creativeinspiration #belfastsmallbusiness #belfastcreatives #creativebusinessowners #creativestartups

Looking forward to this on Wed 22nd Nov, join us at 8pm in our Malone studios for a glass of wine and a chat and to hear from 2 local creatives at different stages of their creative journey!

SPEAKER 1 – BENJI CONNELL ILLUSTRATOR & ARTIST

Benji is an architecturally trained freelance illustrator and artist, with over 7 years of industry experience. Benji set up Concrete Clouds in summer 2019, having spent a number of years in architectural practice in London, scribbling and sketching, before deciding to set up his own illustration studio to focus on his passion and continue to scribble and sketch. Concrete Clouds had long ago been the name of Benji’s failed band; as attempts to become a rockstar didn’t quite pan out, the name was up for grabs and appropriately felt right for an architectural illustration studio.

Benji graduated with a Diploma in Architecture from the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, where he was nominated for the Bram Stoker Medal acknowledging the most imaginative work across the art school. In the years since, Benji became a Member of the Society of Architectural Illustration, the world’s oldest and most prestigious architectural illustration organisation.

Benji is an avid traveller and urban sketcher and was a 2018 recipient of the John Kinross Scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, commissioned to draw and produce artwork inspired by an extended stay in Florence. He has exhibited work internationally, from Edinburgh to Sao Paulo. His work has also featured in a number of publications for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, in addition to Perspective magazine and The Big Conversation.

https://concreteclouds.co.uk/

More info & tickets on our website (link in profile) or visit https://blickstudios.org/events/blick-autumn-meet/

BLICK AUTUMN MEET SPEAKER 1 – BENJI CONNELL ILLUSTRATOR & ARTIST

We are very excited for our Autumn get together on Wed 22nd Nov to welcome back one of our past residents, the immensely talented Benji Connell illustrator and artist
@benjiconnell
@concreteclouds__

Benji will share his creative story and also talk about perfectionism and the impact it has had on his creative work and journey.

Benji is an architecturally trained freelance illustrator and artist, with over 7 years of industry experience. Benji set up Concrete Clouds in summer 2019, having spent a number of years in architectural practice in London, scribbling and sketching, before deciding to set up his own illustration studio to focus on his passion and continue to scribble and sketch. Concrete Clouds had long ago been the name of Benji’s failed band; as attempts to become a rockstar didn’t quite pan out, the name was up for grabs and appropriately felt right for an architectural illustration studio.

Benji graduated with a Diploma in Architecture from the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, where he was nominated for the Bram Stoker Medal acknowledging the most imaginative work across the art school. In the years since, Benji became a Member of the Society of Architectural Illustration, the world’s oldest and most prestigious architectural illustration organisation.

Benji is an avid traveller and urban sketcher and was a 2018 recipient of the John Kinross Scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, commissioned to draw and produce artwork inspired by an extended stay in Florence. He has exhibited work internationally, from Edinburgh to Sao Paulo. His work has also featured in a number of publications for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, in addition to Perspective magazine and The Big Conversation.

https://concreteclouds.co.uk/

EVENT DETAILS

Event Date: Wednesday November 22, 2023

Event Time: 8.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 51 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6RY

Cost: Free

Book your free tickets on our website (link in profile)

* AVAILABLE  WORKSPACE *

From mid-November we have some workspace coming available in our Malone and Hill St studios

* PRIVATE  STUDIO  MALONE RD *

We have one small 1-2 person private studio space coming available in our Malone studios from mid-November. It is £325 per calendar month no VAT and all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities, broadband, 24 hour access and use of meeting rooms). Contracts are for a minimum of 3 months then on a rolling monthly contract. 

More info on the Malone studios page of our website (link in profile) or visit:

https://blickstudios.org/locations/malone-road-belfast/

Or email christine@blickstudios.org

* SHARED   WORKSPACE   HILL  ST *

From mid-November we will have 2 adjacent dedicated deskspace available in our mezzanine shared workspace in our Hill Street studios. £165 per calendar month for 1 desk or £265 per calendar month for both desks no VAT and all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities, broadband, 24 hour access). Contracts are for a minimum of 3 months then on a rolling monthly contract. 

More info on the Hill St studios page of our website (link in profile) or visit:  https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/

Or email christine@blickstudios.org

Developing and Defining Your Creative Idea Exercise: Getting To Know Yourself

The first exercise on our new resources for creatives section on our website is a lovely activity for a Sunday afternoon or evening.

Perfect for some gentle reflection, it`s all about getting to know yourself to help you to define and develop your creative idea.

Better understanding yourself as a person, what drives and motivates you, your hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses, will help you define your creative idea. It will steer you to an idea that makes you happy and fulfilled and fits with your life, your goals and your aspirations.

Below are some prompts for you to explore to help you make the right decisions for you. Not just the easy or expected choices, but ones that really make you come alive and help you create the life that you really want.

- Are you living the life that you want?

- If not, what do you need to change?

- What is your dream life and lifestyle?

- Are you earning the money you need to live your dream life?

- What do you think are your strengths?

- What do you think you could work on?

- What skills would you like to develop?

- How would you like to challenge yourself?

- How would you like to challenge yourself?

- What would you most like to achieve in life?

- What do you most like to do?

- What makes you come alive?

- If you were to look back on your life, what would you most regret not doing?

You can also download the exercise as a PDF or Word document from the Resources for Creatives section on our website (link in profile)

#nicreatives #supportforcreatives
#smallbusinesssupport
#creativebusiness #creativebusinesssupport #belfastsmallbusiness #creativefreelancer

Our Creative Roundup of Funding, Support, Events & Opportunities for Creatives

INCUBATORS, ACCELERATORS & RESIDENCIES

Worth Partnership Project - Open Call for Creatives

10.000 to 20.000 EURO in financial support

Deadline: 27 Nov

European Digital Deal - Open Call for Artists

The selected artists will receive a 25.000 EUR grant to complete their project.

Deadline: 30 Nov

Accelerate Green

Deadline: 10 Nov

Creative Sparks Residency
Deadline: 27 Oct

FUNDING, SUPPORT & OPPORTUNITIES

- Tackling textiles grant

- Ambition to Grow

- Michael McLaverty Short Story Award 2023

- Community Arts Partnership’s Poetry in Motion Anthology ‘- -`Manifest’ - Submissions Open

- Creative Debuts - Black Artists Grant

- Boom Studios Trade Monthly Peer Learning Programme

- Fighting Words NI - Youth Publishing Opportunity

- Access specialist Technical Consultancy support to achieve energy and cost savings for your business.

- Commission Opportunity - University of Atypical

- Flying Eye Submissions

- InterTradeIreland’s Business Explorer Programme

- Women’s Prize Trust Submissions Now Open

TRAINING, COURSES & WORKSHOPS

- NI Screen training scheme for Virtual Production

- Women in Business Building Futures Programme

- Belfast Exposed Photography Courses

- Immersive Technology Journeys Workshop

- Arts & Business Northern Ireland Events

- Free Online Events for Writers with Women’s Prize Trust and ClassFest

FESTIVALS & CONFERENCES

Belfast International Arts Festival
Dates: 12 Oct to 5 Nov

Belfast Film Festival
Dates: 2 to 11 Nov

Belfast XR Festival
Dates: 4th & 5th Nov

Beyond Conference
Dates: 21 - 22 Nov

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

Seedhead arts -The Incrementals – Holly Pereira
Date: Wed 25th Oct

Seminar Series: Decision Making for Better Outcomes
Date: Thurs 26th Oct

NESTA How to turn big ideas into reality
Date: Thurs 16 Nov

IEF Tenx9 Transform
Date: Thursday 30th November

Exhibition: Recent Pictures by John Coffey
Dates: 4 – 28th Oct

Naughton Gallery For Life Exhibition by American photographer Faith Couch
Dates: 25.10.23 - 03.12.23

Women Techmakers Book Club
Date: Thurs 9th Nov

See full details including links on our blog (link in bio)

A beautiful Autumnal day with all the lovely trees in leafy South Belfast!

We have a number of independent yoga and pilates instructors who hire our Malone studios for their regular classes. This helps support our work as a creative organisation.

Their Autumn terms are well under way! Below is the current timetable of regular classes. On our website under the events section you can find the different links to book classes directly with the different teachers

MONDAY

CLASS: Katonah Yoga
TIME: 6.00 – 7.15pm
FACILITATOR: Helena Lavery

CLASS: Pilates
TIME: 7.45 – 8.30pm
FACILITATOR: Pilate by Charlene

TUESDAY

CLASS: Ashtanga Mysore Evening
TIME: 6.00 – 8.00pm
FACILITATOR: Gabriella Nicholson, The Yoga Tree

WEDNESDAY

CLASS: Katonah Yoga
TIME: 6.00 – 7.15pm
FACILITATOR: Helena Lavery

THURSDAY

CLASS: Tribal Restore
TIME: 7.30 – 8.20pm
FACILITATOR: Niamh Dumigan, Tribal UK

FRIDAY

CLASS: Ashtanga Mysore Morning Self-Practice
TIME: 6.30 – 8.30am
FACILITATOR: Gabriella Nicholson, The Yoga Tree

SATURDAY

CLASS: Ashtanga Led Class
TIME: 9.00 – 10.30am
FACILITATOR: Gabriella Nicholson, The Yoga Tree

https://blickstudios.org/events/regular-yoga-pilates-classes/

Working in our Hill St studios today on a lot of admin and doing my best to avoid all the comfy sofas, knowing that if I sit down I won`t ever want to get up

#procrastination #sharedworkspace #creativeworkspace #creativehub