Creative Roundup April
Our latest roundup of funding, support, opportunities, events, exhibitions and festivals for creatives
As part of Augment the City Challenge, Belfast City Council is looking for creative technology innovators to develop concepts and proposals which will use innovative immersive and digital technologies to gather, curate and present stories about Belfast and its people.
The full challenge brief, criteria and application form will be published on 15 April 2024.
Starting on June 1st 2024 and funded by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media and Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, the CIRCE Fellowship programme will commission 10 pilot projects bringing creative impact into practice. We seek passionate individuals committed to innovating on four main topics: Communities & Care; Sustainability & Environment; and Democracy & Participation.
Deadline: Apply by April 16th
A grant for new international work from Speaking Volumes and the British Council
Four grants of £7,000 GBP are available
Deadline: 12th April
The DTFF aims to help small and micro businesses in Northern Ireland to invest in advanced digital technologies. It establishes a grant fund to support eligible businesses with investments in capital equipment that is critical to achieving their digital transformation ambitions.
Invest Northern Ireland has launched its new accelerator programme Founder Labs. It’s a programme of support to help early-stage, technology-based, start-up businesses and entrepreneurs become global businesses of the future.
Each start-up on the programme will benefit from six months of intensive one to one mentoring, workshops and events with industry experts and access to shared workspace. The programme also includes international study visits to explore global opportunities and the chance to pitch to local and international investors.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.
Deadline: April 24th
STRYVE is a unique programme for 16 – 25 year olds that will inspire, up-skill and prepare them for the jobs of the future. They help you gain leadership and creative media qualifications, receive training in creative problem solving, design thinking and entrepreneurship, alongside providing tailored work experience with a path to employment.
INVENT is an annual competition organised by Catalyst with headline partner Bank of Ireland, that celebrates our most exciting entrepreneurs and innovations, giving them an international platform and support to make the greatest impact. Apply today to be in the chance of winning a share of the £55,000 prize fund.
Meet other creatives for lunch
DAS is excited to announce the launch of a new XR Lab. The Lab is aimed at artists and creatives who wish to learn, explore, and develop their creative practice using XR technologies regardless of their background or level of experience. We are currently inviting artists to register their interest in participating.
Craft NI is delighted to partner with Antrim & Newtownabbey Council and Garden Show Ireland for a second time to bring contemporary local craft makers to this annual outdoor celebration of plants and gardens.
Women in Business Female Founders Grant Competition returns for a third year in partnership with Techstart Grants.Whether you have an innovative business idea or an established business that is looking to explore a new product or market, you could receive a grant of up to £35k and mentoring support through our Centre of Learning to drive your passion forward.
Closing date: Tuesday 30th April 2024 @ 5pm
DCMS has announced an additional £5 million for the UK Games Fund as part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision – a joint plan between Government and industry to drive growth, build talent and develop skills across the creative sectors. This new funding will offer £50,000 – £150,000 commercial games-for-entertainment content grants.
Do you have a world-changing idea? If you’re aged 16–25, we want to hear your big idea and give you the chance to bring it to life at Sir Isaac Newton’s home, where he discovered gravity.If you’re chosen, you’ll win an award up to the equivalent value of £5,000.
A collaboration built to empower indie VR developers and supplement other funding sources.
The programme supports individual UK small to medium sized companies wanting to explore and access Horizon Europe collaborative research and innovation opportunities.
This £1 million grants programme supports the creation of new cultural collaborations between UK artists, arts professionals and organisations and their peers around the world.
Closing date: 30 April 2024, 23.59 (GMT)
To get involved, submit your poetry or any questions you may have to Toby.buckley@belfastpride.com for more info today!
You can volunteer either as a Volunteer in Creative Influencers (ages 18-25) OR Work Experience (open to ages 18+). Information is below.
This call is open to European and International projects for the following categories:
• Fiction and Documentary Feature Films: up to 27/33 feature films and international narrative or creative feature documentaries, including 3 Biennale College Cinema Projects, from all over the world will be selected. There is no genre limitation and animation feature films are welcome;
• Immersive Projects: up to 10/12 immersive projects from all over the world will be selected.
Deadline: 3rd May 2024
- Ringside, an exhibition of drawings and paintings by award-winning artist, Sean McGibbon, celebrating Belfast’s boxing culture.
Venue: Ormeau Baths Belfast
Date: 18 April at 6.00pm
Venue: The MAC
Dates: 8 Dec 2023 – 7 Apr 2024
Venue: Ulster Museum
Dates: 23rd Feb- 9th Jun 2024
Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils, in partnership with the UK Government through the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), have launched the new NI Business Support Service, Go Succeed. As part of the programme, there are a number of upcoming events for businesses.
Go Succeed: Access to Finance
Thursday 4 April 2024, 10am to 12:30pm, online
Go Succeed Grow: Using LinkedIn to Grow your Sales
Wednesday 10 April 2024, 1pm to 2pm, online
Go Succeed Grow: Perfecting your Pitch
Thursday 11 April 2024, 10am to midday, online
Selling Skills
Tuesday 16 April 2024, 10am to 12:30pm, Omagh Enterprise
Bolstering Your Start Up – Women Founders Networking Series – 17 April 2024
Wednesday 17 April 2024, 10am to 11:30am, online
Influencer Marketing for your Business
Wednesday 17 April 2024, 1pm to 2pm, online
Building A Sustainable Start-Up
Thursday 18 April 2024, 10am to midday, South West College (Omagh Campus)
Strategy & Business Planning
Thursday 18 April 2024, 10am to 12:30pm, online
Go Succeed: Support to Export – Sources of Help to Get You Started
Tuesday 23 April 2024, 10am to 12:30pm, Ormeau Business Park
Go Succeed: Start to Sell Online through Shopify
Wednesday 24 April 2024, 1pm to 2pm, online
Enterprise Support Clinic – 26 April 2024
Friday 26 April 2024, 11am to 1pm, Craigavon Industrial Development Organisation
Using Canva for Digital Design
Wednesday 8 May 2024, 1pm to 2pm, online
Google Ads for your Business
Thursday 23 May 2024, 10am to 12:30pm, online
B2B Sales Tactics: Identifying Leads, Prospecting and Converting
Wednesday 29 May 2024, 1pm to 2pm, online
Emerging Social Media Trends in 2024
Wednesday 10 July 2024, 1pm to 2pm, online
Date: Wed 17th Apr
Time: 7pm
Venue: Blick Studios Hill St
Location: Pollen Studios
Date and time: 4th April 6-9pm
Join Sarah Ellis, award-winning producer and Director of Digital Development at the Royal Shakespeare Company for a public lecture exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Live Experience.
Date and time: 10 April, 3pm – 5pm
Location: online
Date and time: 10 April, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Online
Presenters from Edinburgh Napier Uni and VR Tonung discuss 360 sound design, followed by a roundup of interesting R&D in XR and sound.
Date and time: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:00 – 15:15 BST
Location: Online
Local arts and makers market
Dates and times: Saturday 20th and Sunday 28th April, 11am to 3pm
Location: Black Box Belfast
Monthly market made up of local artisan producers, makers, growers, vintage and curios.
Date and time: Sun 28th April 1pm to 5pm
Location: Banana Block
Dates: 10 to 27 Apr
Seedhead Arts, with support from Hennessy NI, is getting ready to make a ‘splash’ as they reveal the date of Ireland’s biggest street art festival
Dates: 20th – 30th April
Dates: 2 to 12 May
This programme will see the city come to life with creative projects, events and civic initiatives taking place across Belfast throughout the year.
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Today`s finance resource for emerging creatives is a budget template that you can download from our website as an excel document and complete for your creative business. �Putting together a budget for your creative business will help you to understand your costs, plan out your expenses and reach your goals. It`s also not as complicated as it seems, we have included a downloadable excel budget template on the resources section of our website to help you to put one together for your business (link in our bio or below):
��https://blickstudios.org/resources/useful-finance-resources-links/
Nov 20
�Today for our finance resources for emerging creatives we are sharing what you need to include on an invoice, something that seems obvious, but really isn`t when you are starting out!
�You can download an invoice template as a word or PDF document from the `Resources for Creatives` section of our website (link in bio or below) that you can then customise for your creative business!
��https://blickstudios.org/resources/useful-finance-resources-links/
Nov 19
After a hectic few months, we are back to sharing out useful resources for creatives starting their own business/ practice.
This week we will be sharing some different financial resources. Starting today with some useful financial links for creatives starting their own business
Let us know if you can think of any we have forgotton or anything that was helpful to you when starting out that we can add to the list!
HMRC what does it mean to be self-employed? – https://www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself
Registering as self-employed – https://www.gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader
Registering for VAT if your turnover exceeds £85,000 – https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration/when-to-register
Link to a cashflow template – https://www.startuploans.co.uk/cash-flow-forecast-template/
HMRC free payroll software – https://www.gov.uk/basic-paye-tools
View on our website link in bio or
https://blickstudios.org/resources/useful-finance-resources-links/
Nov 18
We have 1 dedicated deskspace coming available in our Hill St studios from the start of December!
- £165 per calendar month all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities,
broadband etc)
- 3 months minimum contract then on a month by month basis
- 24 hour access
- City centre location
Email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing or visit our website:
https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/
Nov 15
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
