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Creative Roundup – Opportunities for Creatives

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,...

Creative Roundup – Opportunities for Creatives

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 A new funding competition is supporting local businesses and industries in the Belfast region...

Meet The Resident: Sarah Baecher

In our latest Meet the Resident we get to know Sarah Baecher an artist from the U.S. and one of our latest residents in our Cotton Court studios! Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work? My...

Creative Roundup – Opportunities for Creatives

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...

Creative Roundup – Opportunities for Creatives

Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives 01. Illustrators Exhibition Open Call – An Dánlann Dillon | Ballaí Bána at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich The Ballaí Bana Gallery in Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich,...

An Interview with Nurture Participant Bethany Millican

As our Nuture incubation programme finishes at the end of this month we wanted to take the opportunity to ask our participants about themselves, their creative practice and what they have learnt. Can you introduce yourself and tell us...

An Interview with Nurture Participant Vera Hylands

As our Nuture incubation programme finishes at the end of this month we wanted to take the opportunity to ask our participants about themselves, their creative practice and what they have learnt. Can you introduce yourself and tell us...

An Interview with Nurture Participant Grainne Mullan

As our Nuture incubation programme finishes at the end of this month we wanted to take the opportunity to ask our participants about themselves, their creative practice and what they have learnt. Can you introduce yourself and tell us...

Creative Roundup – Opportunities for Creatives

This week’s roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives 01. EIT Business Development Programmes supporting the growth of start-ups and scale-ups in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) EIT Culture & Creativity launches...

Creative Roundup – Opportunities for Creatives

Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives 01. Belfast City Council Street Art Mentorship Bursaries Offering six bursaries of £2,000 to Belfast street artists to enable street artists to learn new skills or...

Creative Roundup – Opportunities for Creatives

Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives 01. Golden Wolf Internships 2025 Golden Wolf and Doodles are on the lookout for 8 incredible interns to join their teams across London, New York,...

One Bite Studio Visit to Belfast

We had a lovely few days touring around different creative projects in Belfast last week with Alan and Sarah from One Bite Design who we met in Hong Kong last October when we were visiting for our British Council project....

An Interview with Illustrator Lauren Kelso

Ahead of her creative talk for us on Wednesday 9th April, upcoming illustrator Lauren Kelso has very kindly done a short interview with us, sharing some of her experiences working as a freelance illustrator since she graduated including her journey...

An Interview with Graeme and Katya Founders of Homewerk

Ahead of their workshop for us on Wednesday 2nd April on ChatGPT for creatives we have done an interview with Homewerk founders Katya and Graeme to find out a bit about them and their new business Homewerk! Can you...

An Interview with Juliette El Fouly Founder of Le Contour Contemporary Candle Company

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your business Le Contour? My name is Juliette, I am the founder behind my small business, Le Contour. I am half Egyptian and half Belgian - born & raised in...

An Interview with Laura Whitehouse Founder of Mighty Fine Design

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your design studio Mighty Fine Design? Hello, I’m Laura! I own and run Mighty Fine Design, a one-women agency (often with contracted help) that works mostly with small brands looking...

Belfast Design Week Sustainable Pop Up Museum Exhibition Great Northern Street

We are delighted to have a mini exhibition space in our new Great Northern Street Studios, which allows us to exhibit the work from the Sustainable Pop Up Design Museum we helped organise in collaboration with Belfast Design Week for...

An Interview with Ian Pitt Founder and Creative Director of Me,Him&Her Design Studio

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your design studio Me,Him&Her? My name is Ian. I’m originally from London, but I’ve been living and working in Belfast for the past two and a half years. I’ve been...

2024 An Overview

2024 a year of change, travel, hard work and exciting new opportunities! 2024 really was a year of change for us at Blick, we left our first studios on the Malone Road after 15 years and moved to new premises...

Meet Our Nurture Program Participants: Vera Hylands

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your creative work? My name is Vera Hylands, and I’m a self-taught artist with a background in business and a lifelong passion for creative work. Although I grew up in...

Meet Our Nurture Program Participants: Grainne Mullan

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your creative work? I am a freelance textile designer specialising in embroidered textiles. I also have experience in teaching and facilitating creative community workshops. I recently started a CIC called...

Meet Our Nurture Program Participants: Bethany Millican

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work? I'm a Belfast-based artist and illustrator, working across a range of traditional and digital mediums. I completed my foundation at Belfast School of Art in 2015, specialising in...

Stéphanie Heckman’s Talk – Key Lessons

Stéphanie Heckman, a graphic recorder and visual communicator and one of our Hill St residents gave a wonderful talk earlier this month. Sharing her creative journey with her business and some tips and insights for other creatives starting their own...

Managing Your Creative Business’s Finances

As part of our finance resources week, we thought we would put together some techniques we have used to manage our costs at Blick over the years 1. Analyse all of your expenditure and think about what value it adds...

The Sustainable Pop-up Design Museum

This week we have been thrilled to have been able to help with Design Week and The Design Salon's Sustainable Pop-up Design Museum as part of the RE(act) Festival for a sustainable Belfast in the Europa Hotel today and tomorrow!...

An Interview with Stéphanie Heckman Graphic Recorder and Visual Facilitator

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! Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work? I’m...

Design Your Life

We are very excited to announce a brand new project we have been working on called “Design Your Life” An international collaboration between The Design Salon which we are a partner of and Kylie Chan Illustration Design Your Life will...

Creative Hubs Meetup Bangor

Some photos from the 3rd NI Creative Hubs Meetup, hosted this time in Bangor, where we visited the following Creative Hubs Boom Studios Seacourt Print Workshop The Courthouse

Meet The Resident: Digital Marketer Syed M. Noman

In our latest Meet the Resident we get to know self-employed digital marketer Syed M. Noman one of our newist creative residents in our Hill St studios. Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work? My name is...

Key Lessons From Founder Of YEO Magazine Saul Duffin’s Blick Academy Creative Talk

Due to an insanely busy period of work and travel this is a very belated event writeup of our last Blick Academy Creative Talk on 5th June with Saul Duffin founder of YEO Magazine! Saul began the talk by speaking...

Meet the Resident: Video Editor Ben O’Neil

Here we meet and get some advice and insights one of our newist creative residents at Blick video editor Ben O'Neil Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work? I’m a video editor who predominantly works in...

Womenfolk JUNIOR.SENIOR June Event Pics

After a week away at a conference then catching up with day to day work, here are some slightly belated pics from our Womenfolk June JUNIOR.SENIOR event on Saturday 15th June with two amazing local creative women sharing their stories...

Malmo Creative Hubs Meet Up

Last week I was very lucky to get to attend this year’s Hubs Meet Up Bautopia 4 Metamorphosis organised by the European Creative Hubs Network with the support of STPLN , the hosting hub in Malmö, Sweden. This year’s...

Ahead of her creative talk for us as part of @belfastdesignwk next Tuesday evening @maureenselinalaverty has done this brilliant interview for us on her path to becoming a designer, her recent move back to Northern Ireland from Norway and the differences she has noticed between working as a designer in both countries.

You can read the interview on the blog on our website or book a ticket for her talk on the events page of our website or on the Belfast Design Week website

www.belfastdesignweek.com

Apr 29

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Ahead of her creative talk for us as part of @belfastdesignwk next Tuesday evening @maureenselinalaverty has done this brilliant interview for us on her path to becoming a designer, her recent move back to Northern Ireland from Norway and the differences she has noticed between working as a designer in both countries.

You can read the interview on the blog on our website or book a ticket for her talk on the events page of our website or on the Belfast Design Week website

www.belfastdesignweek.com

Our third and final blog sharing insights from the Retail Ready Fieldtrip for Ulster University Enterprise Placement Year Students we hosted in October 2025.

We previously shared some of our best insights from the day from Linzi and Emma, today we are sharing those from Rachel McIlgorm founder of @storyboxni a Belfast based ethical gifting company offering curated, sustainable gifts from small and social impact businesses across the UK and Ireland through corporate gifting initiatives and a gift shop based n Portview Trade Centre in East Belfast.

01. Email and introduce yourself. Rachel suggested for retailers such as hers which are social enterprises and interested in the ethics of their suppliers you should send an email and introduce yourself and share your story and why your product would fit their shop.

02. Invest in good quality images of your products

03. Make sure you know your pricing. Account for retailers margins and include details of your pricing when contacting retailers.

04. Don’t be afraid to follow up if you don’t get a response from a retailer.

05. Use your story to market your product. Make your story personal and use it throughout your marketing and branding to differentiate your product.

Rachel is also very kindly taking part in our Rapid Feedback for Makers event on Wednesday 6th May as part of Belfast Design Week

During this event 8 emerging makers and designers will have the opportunity to meet with and get one-on-one feedback from 4 independent design and retail professionals Rachel, Catherine McGinnis co-founder of Maven, Celeste Macormac Owens Retail Co-ordinator Belfast School Of Art Shop and Kate McILhagger-Ng KMN Creative Consulting – formerly Head of Product Development at Made.com.

Get more info and sign up on the Belfast Design Week website www.belfastdesignweek.com

Apr 28

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Our third and final blog sharing insights from the Retail Ready Fieldtrip for Ulster University Enterprise Placement Year Students we hosted in October 2025.

We previously shared some of our best insights from the day from Linzi and Emma, today we are sharing those from Rachel McIlgorm founder of @storyboxni a Belfast based ethical gifting company offering curated, sustainable gifts from small and social impact businesses across the UK and Ireland through corporate gifting initiatives and a gift shop based n Portview Trade Centre in East Belfast.

01. Email and introduce yourself. Rachel suggested for retailers such as hers which are social enterprises and interested in the ethics of their suppliers you should send an email and introduce yourself and share your story and why your product would fit their shop.

02. Invest in good quality images of your products

03. Make sure you know your pricing. Account for retailers margins and include details of your pricing when contacting retailers.

04. Don’t be afraid to follow up if you don’t get a response from a retailer.

05. Use your story to market your product. Make your story personal and use it throughout your marketing and branding to differentiate your product.

Rachel is also very kindly taking part in our Rapid Feedback for Makers event on Wednesday 6th May as part of Belfast Design Week

During this event 8 emerging makers and designers will have the opportunity to meet with and get one-on-one feedback from 4 independent design and retail professionals Rachel, Catherine McGinnis co-founder of Maven, Celeste Macormac Owens Retail Co-ordinator Belfast School Of Art Shop and Kate McILhagger-Ng KMN Creative Consulting – formerly Head of Product Development at Made.com.

Get more info and sign up on the Belfast Design Week website www.belfastdesignweek.com

-- OUR IMPACT--

Blick is a social enterprise, we put profits made from our services into supporting creatives in NI, we are currently busy working on Belfast Design Week but here is a summary of some of our social impact from 2024 -2025. You can also find more info on our past impact on our website

https://blickstudios.org/the-team/our-impact/

Apr 16

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-- OUR IMPACT--

Blick is a social enterprise, we put profits made from our services into supporting creatives in NI, we are currently busy working on Belfast Design Week but here is a summary of some of our social impact from 2024 -2025. You can also find more info on our past impact on our website

https://blickstudios.org/the-team/our-impact/

- - BELFAST WRITERS GROUP – Creative Writing Workshop - -

Saturday 25th April

12.00 - 4pm

Cost: £12

Join Belfast Writers Group for a Saturday afternoon creative writing workshop at Blick Studios on April 25th from 12.00-16.00. Tickets are £12 per person.

Belfast Writers Group is focused on providing high quality writing feedback while building community for writers across genres and levels of experience. During the workshop we will work through several curated writing prompts, and the main part of the workshop will be a guided feedback session based on a structured model. Bring along your stories, poetry, songs or anything in between – all forms and genres are welcome. You might also like to think beforehand about any areas of the work you would like specific guidance on, e.g. a particular scene or character. DM any questions to @belfastwritersgroup on Instagram or email at writersgroupbelfast@gmail.com

https://blickstudios.org/events/belfast-writers-group-creative-writing-workshop-2/

Apr 15

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- - BELFAST WRITERS GROUP – Creative Writing Workshop - -

Saturday 25th April

12.00 - 4pm

Cost: £12

Join Belfast Writers Group for a Saturday afternoon creative writing workshop at Blick Studios on April 25th from 12.00-16.00. Tickets are £12 per person.

Belfast Writers Group is focused on providing high quality writing feedback while building community for writers across genres and levels of experience. During the workshop we will work through several curated writing prompts, and the main part of the workshop will be a guided feedback session based on a structured model. Bring along your stories, poetry, songs or anything in between – all forms and genres are welcome. You might also like to think beforehand about any areas of the work you would like specific guidance on, e.g. a particular scene or character. DM any questions to @belfastwritersgroup on Instagram or email at writersgroupbelfast@gmail.com

https://blickstudios.org/events/belfast-writers-group-creative-writing-workshop-2/

-- OUR STUDIOS--

When we started Blick back in 2008, our ambition was to create beautiful but affordable spaces in great locations in Belfast for creatives to work in productively and creatively alongside other like-minded creatives.

We started with just one building, our Malone Studios in South Belfast, then took on two others in the Cathedral Quarter, our Hill Street studios and Cotton Court studios. In 2024 we had to leave our beautiful Malone studios, but were super fortunate to find our gorgeous new Great Northern Street studios instead. All our studios provide a mix of private studio spaces and shared workspace with dedicated desks and storage.

- - HILL ST - -

Our Hill St studios are our biggest providing workspace to over 25 creatives within an open plan loft space with high ceilings and original features close to Belfast School of Art right in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter. Our Hill St studios can also be used as a virtual office for creatives who want a professional city centre address for their business.

- - COTTON COURT - -

Our Cotton Court studios are our most affordable studios providing both shared and private workspace to over 10 creatives in a building full of different creatives in the Cathedral Quarter.

- - GREAT NORTHERN STREET - -

Our Great Northern Street studios provide shared and private workspace to over 15 creatives and are located just off the Lisburn Road in a modern glass fronted building nestled between traditional red brick Belfast terrace houses.

Our spaces all offer dedicated desks with storage or private studio space with prices from £130 per month. All our prices include rent, rates, utilities and broadband. Our spaces are all designed to be professional, but welcoming creative environments.

Taking a space at Blick is more than just a physical space; it`s about meeting and working alongside like-minded people, collaborating, learning, and sharing experiences. Our Cotton Court and Great Northern Street Studios are both fully occupied at the moment, but we do have a couple of spaces available in our Hill St studios, get in touch if you would like more info

https://blickstudios.org/contact/

Apr 14

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-- OUR STUDIOS--

When we started Blick back in 2008, our ambition was to create beautiful but affordable spaces in great locations in Belfast for creatives to work in productively and creatively alongside other like-minded creatives.

We started with just one building, our Malone Studios in South Belfast, then took on two others in the Cathedral Quarter, our Hill Street studios and Cotton Court studios. In 2024 we had to leave our beautiful Malone studios, but were super fortunate to find our gorgeous new Great Northern Street studios instead. All our studios provide a mix of private studio spaces and shared workspace with dedicated desks and storage.

- - HILL ST - -

Our Hill St studios are our biggest providing workspace to over 25 creatives within an open plan loft space with high ceilings and original features close to Belfast School of Art right in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter. Our Hill St studios can also be used as a virtual office for creatives who want a professional city centre address for their business.

- - COTTON COURT - -

Our Cotton Court studios are our most affordable studios providing both shared and private workspace to over 10 creatives in a building full of different creatives in the Cathedral Quarter.

- - GREAT NORTHERN STREET - -

Our Great Northern Street studios provide shared and private workspace to over 15 creatives and are located just off the Lisburn Road in a modern glass fronted building nestled between traditional red brick Belfast terrace houses.

Our spaces all offer dedicated desks with storage or private studio space with prices from £130 per month. All our prices include rent, rates, utilities and broadband. Our spaces are all designed to be professional, but welcoming creative environments.

Taking a space at Blick is more than just a physical space; it's about meeting and working alongside like-minded people, collaborating, learning, and sharing experiences. Our Cotton Court and Great Northern Street Studios are both fully occupied at the moment, but we do have a couple of spaces available in our Hill St studios, get in touch if you would like more info

https://blickstudios.org/contact/

- - CREATIVE ADVENTURE CLUB - -
- Wed 15th April
- 6.30 - 8pm
- Blick, Hill St studios

Would you like to squeeze a bit more creativity into your daily life?

This Wednesday @homewerk.project`s Creative Adventure Club returns to help shake up your routine. Every fortnight they meet in person where you’ll be given a mystery creative assignment.

They will share the results of their tasks with the group at their fortnightly meet-ups.

Between meet-ups, they have online check-ins, chats with creatives, and other inspiration boosters.

No matter what your creative tendencies – writing, doodling, drawing,

painting, playing with video or audio – Creative Adventure Club is for everyone.

https://blickstudios.org/events/creative-adventure-club-2/

Apr 13

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- - CREATIVE ADVENTURE CLUB - -
- Wed 15th April
- 6.30 - 8pm
- Blick, Hill St studios

Would you like to squeeze a bit more creativity into your daily life?

This Wednesday @homewerk.project's Creative Adventure Club returns to help shake up your routine. Every fortnight they meet in person where you’ll be given a mystery creative assignment.

They will share the results of their tasks with the group at their fortnightly meet-ups.

Between meet-ups, they have online check-ins, chats with creatives, and other inspiration boosters.

No matter what your creative tendencies – writing, doodling, drawing,

painting, playing with video or audio – Creative Adventure Club is for everyone.

https://blickstudios.org/events/creative-adventure-club-2/

- - BLICK CREATIVE TALK: Maureen Laverty Product and Fashion Designer - -

Join us on 5th May for our next Creative Talk with Blick Resident @maureenselinalaverty as part of @belfastdesignwk

ABOUT MAUREEN:

Maureen is a product and fashion designer, and inclusive design researcher. She works on a variety of design meets disability projects. At the heart of her practice is the relationships that she builds with people’s diverse lived experiences. She believes in co-creating knowledge collaboratively to empower people to have ownership over how design can improve their quality of life. She carries this ethos into product development through embodied ethnography and participatory prototyping with those who resonate with the design solutions in their everyday life.

In the last year Maureen has relocated back to Belfast after almost a decade working with inclusive participatory design methods in Norway. Currently she lectures part-time at NCAD in Dublin within their Department of Design for Body & Environment. She guides students through human-centred design practices and speculative future fashion systems that care for each other and our environment.

ABOUT HER TALK:

Maureen will talk about her practice-based PhD research that explored the sensory experience of clothing with neurodivergent communities. Clothing is traditionally conceived as a two-dimensional static visual statement; a conception that is at odds with the dynamic actions it mediates in our everyday lives. The outputs of such a practice are garments that restrict and fight against the body, causing sensory overload and discomfort. This is a universal experience, but particularly heightened for neurodivergent individuals. Maureen will share the results of an extensive ethnographic study on how clothing sensations are experienced by her research participants. She will then discuss alternative design processes that prioritise the tactile, sonic, and kinaesthetic senses.

EVENT DETAILS:
DATE: Tues 5th May
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Blick Hill St

Book through the events page of our website or www.belfastdesignweek.com

Apr 12

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- - BLICK CREATIVE TALK: Maureen Laverty Product and Fashion Designer - -

Join us on 5th May for our next Creative Talk with Blick Resident @maureenselinalaverty as part of @belfastdesignwk

ABOUT MAUREEN:

Maureen is a product and fashion designer, and inclusive design researcher. She works on a variety of design meets disability projects. At the heart of her practice is the relationships that she builds with people’s diverse lived experiences. She believes in co-creating knowledge collaboratively to empower people to have ownership over how design can improve their quality of life. She carries this ethos into product development through embodied ethnography and participatory prototyping with those who resonate with the design solutions in their everyday life.

In the last year Maureen has relocated back to Belfast after almost a decade working with inclusive participatory design methods in Norway. Currently she lectures part-time at NCAD in Dublin within their Department of Design for Body & Environment. She guides students through human-centred design practices and speculative future fashion systems that care for each other and our environment.

ABOUT HER TALK:

Maureen will talk about her practice-based PhD research that explored the sensory experience of clothing with neurodivergent communities. Clothing is traditionally conceived as a two-dimensional static visual statement; a conception that is at odds with the dynamic actions it mediates in our everyday lives. The outputs of such a practice are garments that restrict and fight against the body, causing sensory overload and discomfort. This is a universal experience, but particularly heightened for neurodivergent individuals. Maureen will share the results of an extensive ethnographic study on how clothing sensations are experienced by her research participants. She will then discuss alternative design processes that prioritise the tactile, sonic, and kinaesthetic senses.

EVENT DETAILS:
DATE: Tues 5th May
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Blick Hill St

Book through the events page of our website or www.belfastdesignweek.com

Throughout the month of March on behalf of the Rural Community Network, in the beautiful Hill of The O`Neill & Ranfurly House Dungannon we had the best time facilitating a series of 4 training sessions to support participants to have more confidence when organising rural heritage events.

Big thanks to Emma Mc Aleer from Rural Community Network for inviting us to facilitate this course and to all the great participants for coming along.

It was such a lovely and welcoming group of people and very inspiring for us to find out about some of the amazing things happening in rural areas of NI.

We came away with lots of ideas and inspiration for the future for work projects and day trips to explore places such as Lough Neagh, Coalisland, the Sperrins and Portadown.

Apr 8

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Throughout the month of March on behalf of the Rural Community Network, in the beautiful Hill of The O'Neill & Ranfurly House Dungannon we had the best time facilitating a series of 4 training sessions to support participants to have more confidence when organising rural heritage events.

Big thanks to Emma Mc Aleer from Rural Community Network for inviting us to facilitate this course and to all the great participants for coming along.

It was such a lovely and welcoming group of people and very inspiring for us to find out about some of the amazing things happening in rural areas of NI.

We came away with lots of ideas and inspiration for the future for work projects and day trips to explore places such as Lough Neagh, Coalisland, the Sperrins and Portadown.

Happy Easter! For anyone else working a bit over the holidays here are some great tips from Emma Jackson founder of Hunter Paper Co for creatives interested in selling their work through shops. From a visit we did to see Emma in Hunter Paper Co back in October with Ulster University Enterprise Placement Year Students

Emma is the designer for @hunterpaperco a letterpress stationery brand as well as owner of their own stationery store in Belfast, so she had some great insights from both designer and retailers perspective.

01. Create products with a function. Emma suggested creating products that have a function to increase your sales and stockists

02. Focus on your packaging. Emma echoed Linzi’s thoughts on our last retail ready blog the value of packaging when creating a successful product for retail

03. Visit tradeshows for merchandising tips to set your products apart from others

04. Consider sending physical samples to potential retailers so they can properly experience your product and your commitment to your creative business

05. Emma suggested Faire was a great resource for researching competitors pricing

https://blickstudios.org/blog/retail-ready-insights-for-creatives-from-emma-jackson-founder-of-hunter-paper-co/

Apr 7

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Our second blog sharing insights from the Retail Ready Fieldtrip for Ulster University Enterprise Placement Year Students we hosted in October 2025. We previously shared some of our best insights from the day from Linzi Rooney, here we are sharing those from Emma Johnston founder of @hunterpaperco a letterpress stationery brand and stationery store located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

01. Create products with a function. Emma suggested creating products that have a function to increase your sales and stockists.

02. Focus on your packaging. Emma echoed Linzi’s thoughts on our last retail ready blog about the value of packaging when creating a successful product for retail.

03. Visit tradeshows for merchandising tips to set your products apart from others.

04. Consider sending physical samples to potential retailers so they can properly experience your product and your commitment to your creative business.

05. Emma suggested Faire https://www.faire.com/en-gb/ was a great resource for researching competitors pricing.

You can read the full blog on our website link below and in profile
https://blickstudios.org/blog/retail-ready-insights-for-creatives-from-emma-jackson-founder-of-hunter-paper-co/

Apr 1

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- CREATIVE ADVENTURE CLUB -

- Tomorrow - Wed 1st April
- 6.30 - 8pm
- Blick Hill St

Would you like to squeeze a bit more creativity into your daily life?

Returning this April (our first session starts on 1st April 2026), @homewerk.project`s Creative Adventure Club returns to help shake up your routine.

Every fortnight we’ll meet in person where you’ll be given a mystery creative assignment.

We’ll share the results of our tasks with the group at our fortnightly meet-ups.

Between meet-ups, we’ll have online check-ins, chats with creatives, and other inspiration boosters.

No matter what your creative tendencies – writing, doodling, drawing, painting, playing with video or audio – Creative Adventure Club is for everyone.

Link below or on events page of our website (link in profile)

https://blickstudios.org/events/creative-adventure-club/

Mar 31

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This is such a hard post to write. One of our longest standing studio members Benji Connell sadly passed away earlier this week. Benji was a big part of our community here at Blick, starting out in our Malone studios then moving to Cotton Court, where he made many good friends and will be dearly missed by all.

He was an incredible creative talent and kind and generous person. He gave a lot of his time over the years to support Blick and Belfast’s design and creative community, speaking at events, helping organise exhibitions, supporting and advising other studio members and more.

But most importantly he was a lovely person and over his time in Blick became a good friend and I will dearly miss our chats in the studio, which were almost always about his son Ollie who was so clearly loved by Benji.

Mar 28

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This is such a hard post to write. One of our longest standing studio members Benji Connell sadly passed away earlier this week. Benji was a big part of our community here at Blick, starting out in our Malone studios then moving to Cotton Court, where he made many good friends and will be dearly missed by all.

He was an incredible creative talent and kind and generous person. He gave a lot of his time over the years to support Blick and Belfast’s design and creative community, speaking at events, helping organise exhibitions, supporting and advising other studio members and more.

But most importantly he was a lovely person and over his time in Blick became a good friend and I will dearly miss our chats in the studio, which were almost always about his son Ollie who was so clearly loved by Benji.

- - BLICK CREATIVE RESOURCES - -

Some weekend reading - ‘Rebuild - How To Thrive In The New Kindness Economy’ by Mary Portas is our second book recommendation by Linzi Rooney founder of Born and Bred during our Retail Ready Fieldtrip visit to Born and Bred October last year. Born and Bred sells unique gifts and accessories, created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland.

About: Rebuild - How To Thrive In The New Kindness Economy

Retail and brand expert Mary Portas argues that over the past thirty years the business of what we buy has been dominated by the biggest, fastest and cheapest. But those values no longer resonate. We’ve come to realize that more doesn’t equal better. How we live, buy and sell is changing. We are all ready to put people and planet before profit. The post-pandemic era is all about care, respect and understanding the implications of what we’re doing. This ‘Kindness Economy’ is a new value system where in order to thrive businesses must understand the fundamental role they play in the fabric of our lives. They need to add, not just grow, balancing commerce with social progress. Because we don’t just want to buy from brands – we want to buy into them. Full of expert insight and invaluable advice, Rebuild is about resetting the dial. It gives business people pause for thought about how to make money, as well as the practical tools to build back post-pandemic. And it speaks to anyone who votes with the pound in their pocket – all of us who, with social progress in mind, want to spend our money differently and better.

https://blickstudios.org/resources/book-inspiration-rebuild-how-to-thrive-in-the-new-kindness-economy-by-mary-portas/

Mar 27

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- - BLICK CREATIVE RESOURCES - -

`Work Like A Woman` was recommended as a source of book inspiration for creatives by Linzi Rooney founder of Born and Bredwhich sells unique gifts and accessories, created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland during our 2025 Retail Ready Fieldtrip for Ulster University Enterprise Placement Year Students.

About How To Work Like A Woman

Are you ready to be your best self at work? Packed with advice, tips and decades of business experience from Mary Portas, this is a book for every one of us: whatever level you are, wherever you work. It’s about calling time on alpha culture and helping every one of us to be happier, more productive and collaborative.

Visit the resources section of our website for more info

Mar 26

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- - BLICK CREATIVE RESOURCES - -

'Work Like A Woman' was recommended as a source of book inspiration for creatives by Linzi Rooney founder of Born and Bredwhich sells unique gifts and accessories, created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland during our 2025 Retail Ready Fieldtrip for Ulster University Enterprise Placement Year Students.

About How To Work Like A Woman

Are you ready to be your best self at work? Packed with advice, tips and decades of business experience from Mary Portas, this is a book for every one of us: whatever level you are, wherever you work. It’s about calling time on alpha culture and helping every one of us to be happier, more productive and collaborative.

Visit the resources section of our website for more info

Some great insights for creatives wanted to sell through retailers from Linzi Rooney owner of Born and Bred which sells unique gifts and accessories, created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland through their Belfast City Centre and online shop

https://blickstudios.org/blog/retail-ready-insights-for-creatives-from-linzi-rooney-founder-of-born-and-bred/

Mar 23

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Some great insights for creatives wanted to sell through retailers from Linzi Rooney owner of Born and Bred which sells unique gifts and accessories, created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland through their Belfast City Centre and online shop

https://blickstudios.org/blog/retail-ready-insights-for-creatives-from-linzi-rooney-founder-of-born-and-bred/

Some lovely comments from some of our current and past creative residents!

Mar 20

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Some lovely comments from some of our current and past creative residents!

- - SHARED CREATIVE WORKSPACE AVAILABLE - -

We have dedicated deskspaces available in our beautiful Hill St studios

– £165 per calendar month

– All inclusive prices (rent, rates, utilities, broadband) no VAT

– Minimum 3 months contract then on a rolling monthly contract

– 1 months rent required as a deposit

– Cathedral Quarter location

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/hill-street-belfast/

Mar 18

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Happy St Patrick`s Day here`s our latest roundup of funding and opportunities for NI Creatives

01. Belfast Stories Community Grants
Closing date: 14th April

02. Heritage Crafts – Fashion Textile Maker of the Year Award 2026

03. Open call for applications for the 2026 RDS Craft Awards
Deadline: 13th April

04. Bank of Ideas Funding
Closing date: 23rd March

05. Garden Show Ireland Craft NI Craft Village Call-Out

06. The Ampersand Foundation – Annual Grant Applications Open

07. The UK Artist Touring Fund is now open for Phase One applications.
Deadline: 11:59pm on Friday 20th March

08. Rowntree’s `Free the Fund` Community Grant Programme

09. Alleyway Transformation Fund

10. Belfast Design Week - Get Involved

Full listings including links on our website link below and in profile

https://blickstudios.org/blog/blick-creative-roundup/

Mar 17

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Way back in October last year we organised a Retail Ready Fieldtrip for Ulster University Enterprise Placement Year Students.

With the students all learning about how to get their creative products ready for retail from Linzi Rooney founder of Born and Bred, Emma Johnston founder of Hunter Paper Co and Rachel McIlgorm founder of Story Box NI.

It has taken us a while but we took lots of notes on the day and have written up some of our best insights from the day, that we thought might be useful for other creatives on a similar journey. Starting with Linzi Rooney founder of @wearebornandbred_ which sells unique gifts and accessories, created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland.

01. Create a strong brand and social media presence.

Linzi really emphasised the value of creating a strong brand and social media presence for your creative business to make you more attractive as a potential supplier for retailers. For her shop she said brand is quite often more important than the product itself.

02. Streamline your production processes.

To ensure you can create your products at the volumes required for your chosen retailer.

03. Work out your pricing to take into account retailers margins.

Try and charge the same price directly to clients as shops are. Don’t undercut retailers by charging wholesale costs directly to customers or if you want to charge more make sure you have a reason for it.

04. Focus on your packaging.

Packaging is as important to many customers as the product itself.

05. Tell your story.

Through both your branding, packaging and social media to set your creative business apart from high street alternatives.

06. Linzi also really recommended the following books for inspiration.

Mary Portas Rebuild and Work Like A Woman.

Mar 16

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For @irish_designweek 17th – 21st November 2025 with @belfastdesignwk we collaborated with @futureislandisland on an event an exhibition on the theme Islands of Design. The exhibition was showcased in @belfastschoolofart

Mar 12

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For @irish_designweek 17th – 21st November 2025 with @belfastdesignwk we collaborated with @futureislandisland on an event an exhibition on the theme Islands of Design. The exhibition was showcased in @belfastschoolofart