Blick Creative Roundup August – September
Our summary of some interesting and useful opportunities, events and resources over the next couple of months.
FUNDING, SUPPORT & OPPORTUNITIES
ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
The programme will support early-stage international development opportunities for individual, freelance and self-employed artists and arts organisations based in Northern Ireland.
Closing date: 12noon on Monday 21 August 2023
INTERNATIONAL WRITERS RESIDENCY PROGRAMME
British Council 4-week international writer’s residency programme February-March 2024 in Hong Kong for writers with at least one book published
Deadline: Thursday 31 August
BRITISH COUNCIL SPOTLIGHT ON CULTURE UK/FRANCE GRANTS
The British Council are seeking artistic collaborations between France and Northern Ireland for a new fund designed to spark new and refresh connections between the UK and France. Up to £30k is available through the fund to support collaborations between Northern Ireland and France – to help build long-term relationships among artists, creative practitioners, and cultural organisations.
Deadline: 8th September
ARTS COUNCIL NATIONAL LOTTERY MAJOR INDIVIDUALS AWARDS (SIAP)
Major Individual Awards are intended to create the circumstances in which established artists with national / international recognition may develop extended or ambitious work. Costs can be for specific projects, specialised research, personal artistic development and materials/ equipment.
Four awards of up to £15,000 each are being offered in 2023/24.
Deadline: Tue 15th August
ARTS COUNCIL NATIONAL LOTTERY SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS PROGRAMME (SIAP)
The aim of the overall Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP) is to support artists across all disciplines to create work and develop their practice.
Closing date: 31st August
SCULPTURAL ARTWORK COMMISSION FOR BUSHMILLS COURTHOUSE SHARED SPACE CREATIVE HUB
This tender seeks visionary artists for the design, fabrication, and installation of four striking 2D/3D sculptural artworks. The maximum budget for each sculptural artwork is £50,000. Each individual artist is limited to applying for a maximum of two commissions.
This opportunity is part of the Bushmills Courthouse Shared Space Creative Hub project, supported by the EU’s PEACE IV Shared Space Programme. The project aims to restore the historic grade 2 listed Bushmills Courthouse and construct a new three-story extension, creating a vibrant Creative Hub for creative businesses, the local community, and visitors.
To apply
For full details and how to apply, please email thecourthouse@enterprisecauseway.co.uk
Deadline: Friday 4th August 2023 at 4pm
RENDR OPEN CALL 2024
The RENDR Festival is a unique experience in Northern Ireland, celebrating creative craft and artistry in a fully immersive festival exploring the space between creativity and technology. They are doing an open call for people to Speak, Perform or Demo at the 2024 festival
Deadline: Friday 11th August 2023
ARTS & BUSINESS NI AWARDS TROPHY COMMISSION
This year, Arts & Business NI are seeking trophy artworks which reflect the theme of ‘connection’. Artists are invited to submit design proposals for the Award Pieces in response to the brief which can be found at the link below.
The total fee for this commission (15 award pieces) is £4,000. Submission of design proposal along with a CV required by noon on 29 August 2023
Deadline: noon on 29 August 2023
EVENTS, EXHIBITIONS, WORKSHOPS & FESTIVALS
Collaborative exhibition of reinterpreted iconic album artworks from some of Usfolk’s favourite illustrators in partnership with Sound Advice Belfast.
Date: Thursday 3rd August
Time: 6 – 9pm
Venue: Banana Block
Launch night Thursday 3rd August
Open day Sunday 6th August
Venue: Belfast Ceramics Studio
KERRY WHELAN X PURE DIRT EXHIBITION OPENING
Date: Fri 11th August
Time: 7 – 10pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 51 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RY
A series of workshops and gatherings for creatives
This August we are excited to return with our first program of in-person events since 2020. A series of workshops and gatherings for creatives who want to take some time out for themselves, to develop their creative ideas and to connect with other like minded creatives.
We hope to provide space, support and inspiration to allow you to follow your own path and take the first practical steps to make your creative idea, whether it’s a new business, a new project, side hustle, rebrand of your current creative business or anything at all that’s creative a reality.
An afternoon of thinking, idea development & connecting with other creatives
Date: Fri 4th August
Time: 3.30 – 5.30pm
Providing space and support for you to work on your creative idea
Dates: Sat 5th, 12th & 19th August
Time: 10.00am – 2.00pm
A series of workshops on defining and writing your creative story
Dates: Sat 5th, 12th & 19th August
Time: 2.30 – 5.00pm
An afternoon of making & connecting with other creatives
Date: Sun 6th August
Time: 3.00 – 5.00pm
Summer get-together for creatives to gain inspiration and connect with other like-minded creatives.
Theme: ‘Courage’
Date: Wed 23rd August
Time: 8.00 – 9.30pm
All of our summer events are being hosted in our Malone studios
A get-together for Creative Hubs from NI to come together to share ideas and information, support each other and potentially come together to work on larger scale projects.
Date: Wednesday 23rd August
Time: 11am – 1pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 51 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RY
VIRTUAL SPEAKING MASTERCLASS BELFAST
Learn the key skills of effective online communication
Date: Friday 25th August
Time: 6.30 – 8.00pm
Location: online
INTERTRADEIRELAND SEED FINANCE WORKSHOPS
The Seed Finance Workshops are designed to help early stage start-up companies seeking to raise Business Angel or Venture Capital finance.
The Workshop Timetable is as follows:
Seed Finance I Tuesday 22nd August 10:00am – 12:00pm
Seed Finance II Friday 25th August 10:00am – 12:00pm
Seed Finance III Tuesday 29th August 10:00am – 12:00pm
Sunday 27th August
Time: 2-6pm
Location: Banana Block
Join ArtsEkta for a feast of family events, late night music, food, exhibitions, walking tours, finishing with the spectacular festival weekend at Botanic Gardens.
Dates: 19 – 27 August 2023
Times: Various
Location: Various
Featuring some of the best in contemporary craft, the annual August Craft Month Exhibition aims to celebrate and profile excellence in Northern Irish craft.
Dates: 3rd August – 15th September
Location: Craft NI Gallery
WHY LEARNING TO FAIL CAN TEACH US TO THRIVE
The world’s leading expert on the science of psychological safety draws on a lifetime’s research to show how to get failure right.
Amy Edmondson has been named the most influential management thinker in the world. In her latest work, she introduces the three archetypes of failure – simple, complex and intelligent – and explains how to harness the revolutionary potential of the good failures – and eliminate the bad.
Date: Tuesday 26 September 2023
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location:online via YouTube
Creative UK’s annual festival has been engaging audiences since 2020 with creators from across the Creative Industries, forming a space for discussion and interaction, through thought-provoking panels, talks, workshops and performances.
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We are delighted to have a mini exhibition space, including great street windows in our new Great Northern Street Studios! Which will give us space to showcase some of our projects, allowing passing members of the public and visitors to our studio to find out a bit more about the creative industry in Belfast.
The first work we are showcasing is the work from the Sustainable Pop Up Design Museum we helped organise in collaboration with @belfastdesignwk for the REact Festival in November.
Feb 20
Join us on Wednesday, 19th March, for our next Blick Creative Talk featuring Juliette El Fouly founder of Le Contour contemporary candle company - @lecontourcandles
About Juliette:
“I began my journey in lockdown of 2020 where, like many of us, I experienced first-hand the importance of being surrounded by things that enrich and encourage us in our day to day lives – namely in our home. This is what prompted the creation of my very first collection, designed to empower women and inclusively celebrate the female form. An ethos I am proud to align my brand to.”
In this talk, Juliette will share her creative story, including the highs and lows and some of the lessons she has learned along the way!
You can find out more about Juliette on her website lecontour.co.uk and follow her on Instagram at @lecontourcandles
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): March 19, 2025
Event Time: 7pm-8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket on the events page of our website (link in profile)!
Feb 19
Thanks to everyone who joined us last Wednesday evening for our creative talk with the wonderful Ian Pitt founder and creative director of @mehimandherdesign
We have loads of great talks and workshops coming up over the next few months, keep an eye on our website and socials for more info!
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Feb 14
AVAILABLE WORKSPACE
We currently have 2 dedicated adjacent deskspaces available in our Cotton Court Studios £125 per calendar month all inclusive (rates, utilities, broadband) per desk or £225 for both desks. Email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing or visit our website for more info
Feb 11
Creative Skills Workshop – How to DIY your brand (and the common mistakes to avoid)
Join us on Wednesday, 12th March, for this free creative skills workshop all about branding your creative business. This workshop will be hosted by Laura Whitehouse founder of @mightyfinedesign
ABOUT LAURA:
Hello! I run a small graphic design agency (read: one person, a dog, and lots of lovely contractors) based in Bangor. I specialise in work for arts organisations, small businesses looking to grow, and a smattering of TV and Film projects, with clients across the UK ranging from garden designers, marketers, and voiceover artists through to behemoths such as Sky, Netflix, the BBC, and Marvel.
I graduated in 2012 with a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology, not exactly, a natural path to becoming a designer, and so my relationship with design began as illicit rendezvous with internships and local theatre productions, tinkering with posters and bothering people for work. I snuck my way into a Proper Grown-Up Agency after university in 2015, and another a few years later, working with bigger fish, bigger briefs, and balancing freelance work on the side until going fully self-employed in the glorious year that was 2020.
I’m now known as Mighty Fine Design, and alongside my own skills I’ve got a little black book of talented Junior Designers, Copywriters, Marketers, Social Media Whizzes, Photographers, and Set Designers to bring jobs to life: no matter what the size.
You can find out more about Laura on her website: https://www.laurawhitehouse.com/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightyfinedesign/
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): March 12, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket! Link below and in our profile ✨️
https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-workshop/
Feb 10
�Really looking forward to Ian Pitt �@mehimandherdesign�`s talk this Wednesday evening! Just 2 tickets left which you can book for free on our website!
Feb 4
Just a few tickets left for our creative talk this Wednesday evening with Ian Pitt, founder and creative director of Me,Him& Her Design Studio!
With nearly 30 years of experience in design, Ian’s career began in the retail sector before co-founding his own studio in 2007. Over the past 18 years, Me,Him&Her has developed a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach, crafting brand identities that come to life across digital, print, and physical spaces.
Their client base spans multinational corporations (ASOS, Virgin), SME’s and startups, all with a focus on creating meaningful, engaging brand experiences. Across branding, graphics, signage, interiors, or exhibitions, the studio balances creativity with commercial impact.
In this talk, Ian will share insights from his creative journey, exploring key projects, lessons learned, and the realities of running an independent design studio — from the highs of creative freedom to the challenges he’s found running his own business.
Discover more about Ian and his work at mehimandher.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @mehimandherdesign
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket (link below or in profile)
https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-talk-2/
Feb 3
Some weekend reading part 2! Ahead of his talk for us this Wednesday
evening Ian Pitt, founder and creative director of Me,Him&Her Design
Studio has done a brilliant interview for us that you can read now on
the blog on our website link in profile or below ✨️
https://blickstudios.org/blog/an-interview-with-ian-pitt-founder-and-creative-director-of-mehimher-design-studio/
You can also still book a free ticket on the events page of our website!
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket!
https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-talk-2/
Feb 2
Some weekend reading! Ahead of his talk for us this Wednesday evening Ian Pitt founder and creative director of Me,Him&Her Design Studio has done a brilliant interview for us that you can read now on the blog on our website (link in profile) or over the next two days here on Instagram ✨️
You can still book a free ticket on the events page of our website!
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket!
https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-talk-2/
Feb 1
It`s the last day of January. There`s still time to reflect on your plans and ambitions for your creative practice for the year ahead. Here`s some journal prompts to help you get started!
What would the best next year look like for you in your creative practice?
What would you create, experience, and accomplish in your creative practice over the next 12 months to make it the best year of your life? Dream Big, but also include the details
Also available as downloadable Word and PDF documents on our website link in profile and below 🌼 🌸 🌻
https://blickstudios.org/resources/12331/
Jan 31
Ahead of Ian Pitt, founder and creative director of Me,Him&Her`s creative talk for us next Wednesday evening, we are sharing with you some examples of his work for clients, including:
�- �Promotional work for The English National Opera gallery show “Under The Skin”
�- �Branding for the depot_ a mixed use gallery/work and event space, East London
�- �Interior work for Sony Music
�- �Branding, placemaking, and wayfinding for Leavesden Park, Watford
�- �Show catalogue for “Change Everything - Art as Protest” curated by Anthony Burrill and the depot_
- �FCUKFM. Live radio station installation broadcasting from French Connection store windows Regent Street
With nearly 30 years of experience in design, Ian’s career began in the retail sector before co-founding his own studio in 2007. Over the past 18 years, Me,Him&Her has developed a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach, crafting brand identities that come to life across digital, print, and physical spaces.
Their client base spans multinational corporations (ASOS, Virgin), SME’s and startups, all with a focus on creating meaningful, engaging brand experiences. Across branding, graphics, signage, interiors, or exhibitions, the studio balances creativity with commercial impact.
In this talk, Ian will share insights from his creative journey, exploring key projects, lessons learned, and the realities of running an independent design studio — from the highs of creative freedom to the challenges he’s found running his own business.
Discover more about Ian and his work at mehimandher.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @mehimandherdesign
�EVENT DETAILS��
��Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket!
��https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-talk-2/�������
Jan 30
We currently have 2 dedicated deskspaces available in our Cotton Court Studios £125 each per calendar month email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing or visit our website for more info!
Jan 29
As we approach the end of the first month of a new year here are some journal prompts to help you refine your creative idea by reflecting on your current creative practice over the past year.
Reflect on the area of your creative practice you have experienced the most growth this year. What have you learned, and how have you evolved in that part of your life?
What are you proud of or deeply grateful for this year in your creative practice? List everything that comes to mind big or small
You can also download the journal prompts as a PDF or Word document on the creative resources section of our website (link in profile)
Jan 28
What a miserable Sunday, but for anyone working on a new creative business idea, or looking to change their current creative business model or make some changes in their life it`s the perfect weather for staying indoors and doing some gentle reflection. We have put together some (hopefully) useful journal prompts to help you get started!
You can also download this exercise as a pdf or word document from the resources section on our website ✨️(link in profile)
Jan 26
Looking forward to our first creative talk of 2025 on Wednesday, 5th February with Ian Pitt, founder and Creative Director of the London - and Belfast-based design studio Me,Him&Her. @mehimandherdesign
With nearly 30 years of experience in design, Ian’s career began in the retail sector before co-founding his own studio in 2007. Over the past 18 years, Me,Him&Her has developed a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach, crafting brand identities that come to life across digital, print, and physical spaces.
Their client base spans multinational corporations (ASOS, Virgin), SME’s and startups, all with a focus on creating meaningful, engaging brand experiences. Across branding, graphics, signage, interiors, or exhibitions, the studio balances creativity with commercial impact.
In this talk, Ian will share insights from his creative journey, exploring key projects, lessons learned, and the realities of running an independent design studio — from the highs of creative freedom to the challenges he’s found running his own business.
Discover more about Ian and his work at mehimandher.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @mehimandherdesign
Event details:
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Book your free ticket on our website ✨️ (link in profile)
Jan 22
Creative Skills Workshop – Branding Your Creative Business
Join us on Wednesday, 12th March, for this free creative skills workshop all about branding your creative business!
Event Date(s): March 12, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Full workshop details and facilitator info coming soon!
Sign up now for your free ticket! (Link in profile)
Event Date(s): March 12, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Jan 21
Blue skies & loads of light & amazing shadows in our Great Northern Street Studios on this lovely sunny Friday 💙 🌞 ☀️ 🌤
Jan 17
Great workshop yesterday in our Great Northern Street Studios on - ``creative purpose, values, vision and mission` with our Nurture Program participants @verahylands and @bethanysmillican . Many thanks to @itsaullovin founder of @yeomagazine for being our guest and sharing his thoughts and experiences!
Jan 16
We are super excited to have Ian Pitt, founder and Creative Director of the London – and Belfast-based design studio Me,Him&Her. sharing his creative story at our next Creative Talk on Wednesday 5th February!
With nearly 30 years of experience in design, Ian’s career began in the retail sector before co-founding his own studio in 2007. Over the past 18 years, Me,Him&Her has developed a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach, crafting brand identities that come to life across digital, print, and physical spaces.
Their client base spans multinational corporations (ASOS, Virgin), SME’s and startups, all with a focus on creating meaningful, engaging brand experiences. Across branding, graphics, signage, interiors, or exhibitions, the studio balances creativity with commercial impact.
In this talk, Ian will share insights from his creative journey, exploring key projects, lessons learned, and the realities of running an independent design studio — from the highs of creative freedom to the challenges he’s found running his own business.
Discover more about Ian and his work at mehimandher.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @mehimandherdesign
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket on our website (link in profile) 🌟 🌟 🌟
Jan 14
