Sign up to our mailing list: Register now

Latest News

Find updates on exhibitions, workshops, talks and more.

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...

10 Tips for Cutting Your Costs to Increase your Profits

Our question for personal reflection last week was can you cut your costs to make more profit? Sometimes it's easier to cut costs than generate more income. This can be the difference between make and break for a creative business...

Blick Creative Roundup July – August

Our summary of some interesting and useful opportunities, events and resources over the next couple of months. FUNDING, SUPPORT & OPPORTUNITIES Northern Ireland Screen Short Film Funding Northern Ireland Screen have launched their short film funding call. Funding is available...

Grow Your Own A Venturefolk x BDW Collab & Why We’re Getting Involved

We’re very excited to be hosting the final Grow Your Own Way workshop this Saturday in our Malone Studios. Grow Your Own Way is a collaborative project between VentureFolk and Belfast Design Week to bring together growers and designers to...

Blick Creative Roundup May – June

We are bringing back our Creative Roundup, now every 6 weeks on our blog, social media and in our new format newsletter. Our summary of some interesting and useful opportunities, events and resources for creatives in Northern Ireland. FUNDING, SUPPORT...

Meet Our Community: Blick Graduate Resident Kirsty Dunlop

Here we get to meet the first of our graduate residents textile designer and artist Kirsty Dunlop... Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your creative business idea? Yes so I’m from Belfast, I originally trained as a...

Bautopia Culture & Creativity Conference Porto Oct 2022 Key Takeaways

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Bautopia Culture & Creativity Conference in Porto last week. It was a fantastic conference in a very beautiful city and I was fortunate to arrive for the weekend before the conference...

How To Be a Better Listener

Learning to be a better listener will help you to be a better person, as well as a better business person. Improving your listening skills will help you to build rapport with your customers which will help you to sell...

Creative Roundup – 2023 Colour Inspiration, Rising Stars Competition, Future Fashion Factory Showcase & Upcoming Exhibitions & Events

Here are some interesting things both local and international for NI creatives this week INSPIRATION PANTONE 2023 COLOUR INSPIRATION This week its all about colours and design inspiration for 2023. Published for the fashion industry by the Pantone Color Institute™,...

Creative Roundup – How to Sell Online, Arts Council Funding, Writing, Interiors and Design Workshops and more

This is what we are loving for NI creatives this week INSPIRATION HOW TO SELL ONLINE Loads of great free information from Shopify on how to sell online, perfect for preparations for the festive season. Covering topics such as How...

Meet Our Community: Niamh Dumigan Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Tribal UK

Here we meet one of the newer members of the broader Blick community Niamh Dumigan who is starting to teach yoga in our Malone studios on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings from the 5th September. Can you tell us...

Creative Roundup – One Question A Day Calendar, British Council New Narratives Grant, UK Export Academy, Resources & Events

Here are some of our favourite inspiring and useful things for NI creatives this week INSPIRATION ONE QUESTION A DAY CALENDAR This free calendar schedules one thought-provoking question per day to help in all areas of your life from your...

Creative Roundup – Lauren Currie Newsletter, Startup UK Free Resources, Creative Tenders, Festivals, Pop-ups & Events

This is some of what is inspiring us this week, along with some great events, support and opportunities for NI creatives. INSPIRATION LAUREN CURRIE NEWSLETTER I love this newsletter. It is beautifully curated, simple, easy to read and features so...

Creative Roundup: Seth Godin Some Questions, Vacant to Vibrant Grant, Creatives Collective Market & Creative Workshops

This is some of what is inspiring us this week, along with some great events and funding opportunities. INSPIRATION SETH GODIN - SOME QUESTIONS Not much to say about this, it’s very simple, but all the same a great list...

Blick Graduate Residency Program

We are very excited following a long and tedious couple of years to be back this Autumn with some new programs and support for self-employed creatives. One of the programs we are bringing back is our Graduate Residency Program for...

Creative Roundup: Trademarket, Qest Awards for Makers, Belfast XR Festival & Creative Workshops

Here are some of our favourite things for creatives, upcoming funding and support, events, opportunities and inspiration this week. INSPIRATION TRADEMARKET - I spend a lot of time walking between our studios in South Belfast and the Cathedral Quarter, it’s...

Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail an Interview with Hannah Griffin

Earlier this year we had the opportunity to support Belfast illustrator Hannah Griffin with space to paint an elephant as part of Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail which is on display throughout Belfast until the 31st August. The free, family-friendly art...

No Space For Design Podcast

We hope everyone had a lovely July break and a chance to enjoy the good weather. We are back in the office this week and wanted to share this podcast series that we were very kindly invited by Agency of...

Meet Our Community: Malone Resident Alanna Offield Seaside Books

I love reading and I love books, I also like to support local creatives and buy local and independent, so I was very excited this week to get to chat with our newest Blick resident Alanna to find out more...

Creative Roundup: Nesta Creative Enterprise Toolkit, Video Game Support, Faculty Courses and more

Here is a roundup of some of our favourite things for creatives, upcoming funding and support, events, opportunities and inspiration this week. INSPIRATION We are currently planning some updates and additions to our website including a resources section for creatives...

Creative Roundup: Starving Artist Podcast, Free Online Lean Business Planner, Tech Nation Funding & Upcoming Events

Here is a roundup of some of our favourite things for creatives, upcoming funding and support, events, opportunities and inspiration this week. INSPIRATION This week when doing some research for a new potential project I was pointed in the direction...

Creative Roundup: Slow Business, Inspiration, Funding & Support & More

Here is a roundup of some of our favourite things for creatives, upcoming funding and support, events, opportunities and inspiration this week. INSPIRATION Slow Business Movement - we are starting to plan our new programme of events, activities and support,...

Meet our Community: Cotton Court Resident Emanuela Mae Agrini

This week we had a quick catchup with our newest Cotton Court resident creative freelancer Emanuela, who told us a bit about herself and her creative work Tell us a bit about yourself and your business? Hey there! I...

Creative Roundup 10th June

Here is a roundup of some of our favourite things for creatives, upcoming funding and support, events, opportunities and inspiration this week. INSPIRATION Belfast School of Art - part of the reason we have chosen to have studios in...

Helena Lavery

Meet our Community: Yoga Teacher Helena Lavery

Blick is all about community, our creative residents and the wider creative community, but also the people who use our facilities for various different activities. Activities that help support Blick financially so that we can provide affordable workspace and run...

Creative Roundup 30th May

We plan to regularly bring you some of our favourite things for NI creatives - upcoming funding and support, events, opportunities and inspiration. INSPIRATION This week we're loving Belfast Photo Festival, particularly their Botanic Gardens Exhibit which is just near...

Meet Our Community: Blick Founder Christine

Since covid we have been very busy with new residents and behind the scenes work in the studios. We are planning to pick things up again with more for the wider creative business community in Northern Ireland in coming months....

Ronan Bowes – Solo Exhibition with Gallery 545

Ronan Bowes – Solo Exhibition ‘Decompression: Abstract Works on Paper’ Blick is delighted to support resident Francesca Biondi, director of Gallery 545 in her latest virtual exhibition. ‘Decompression’ features award-winning artist Ronan Bowes. This special solo exhibition presents for the...

Story of Blick

The Story of Blick Shared Studios

FUTURE We now have approximately 70 businesses across our studios with 115 creatives working in our spaces. We are excited to continue our different creative adventures and projects and supporting creatives in Belfast. 2021 In 2021 we finished our Womenfolk...

Artist feature – Rhea Hanlon

We are delighted to feature Rhea Hanlons artwork in our Malone Studios atrium where it takes pride of place in this sunny breakout space for residents and visitors to enjoy. Rhea is a freelance Illustrator and Animator and a recent...

Dani McFerran top 100 female entrepreneur

Resident Dani McFerran celebrated as top 100 ƒ:Entrepreneur

Our resident Dani McFerran, founder of award winning Graphic Design studio Done & Dusted , was celebrated for her contribution to entrepreneurship at the House of Lords to mark International Women's Day. Inspirational female founders from across the UK gathered...

Rosie McGurran 'Corners of Time' solo exhibition

Rosie McGurran ‘Corners of Time’ Solo Exhibition

Blick studios is delighted to host the Rosie McGurran 'Corners of Time' solo exhibition, curated by resident Francesca Biondi of Gallery 545. This exhibition features Rosie McGurran, Royal Ulster Academician and award-winning artist. It presents an extraordinary series of new...

Holly Cowley

#MeetTheResident – Holly Cowley

Tell us a bit about yourself and your business? Hiya! My name is Holly and I’m a 22-year-old Theatre graduate from the University of York. I moved to Belfast in September because I was ready for something new and far...

-- 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17955306816119686

-- 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18092502968113391

- - 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18391042801087043

-- 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18085660709612998

- - 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18375389638162543

- - 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18109049164858150

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17967593340045098

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17882789859499098

- 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18399472294199099

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17880531936514744

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18115149841736576

- - 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18054553052492480

- - 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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18048827891527263

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17876158395542908

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17998698308874859

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18087704422954485

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18316156492271819

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

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18109126978773553

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

Some lovely colourful pics of our collaborative workshop in @kitschsistersbelfast as part of Irish Design Week last Nov with @belfastdesignwk @onebite.design and @futureislandisland for both Belfast School of Art and Queen`s University of Belfast Architecture students!

https://blickstudios.org/projects/onebite-student-design-workshop-irish-design-week/

Mar 11

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17880036030480377

Some lovely colourful pics of our collaborative workshop in @kitschsistersbelfast as part of Irish Design Week last Nov with @belfastdesignwk @onebite.design and @futureislandisland for both Belfast School of Art and Queen's University of Belfast Architecture students!

https://blickstudios.org/projects/onebite-student-design-workshop-irish-design-week/

Some lovely pics of the RSUA Design Box featuring work by Regenerative Designer Kristen Robb @worthyearthapparel for our @belfastdesignwk Collab for Irish Design Week back in November!

Kristen`s "Dye Box` full of plants, dyes, textiles, books & secret recipes brought her studio environment from her shed in Newtownards to Belfast city centre and celebrated Regenerative Design and learning about our flora and fauna.

Mar 10

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18400228738197083

Some lovely pics of the RSUA Design Box featuring work by Regenerative Designer Kristen Robb @worthyearthapparel for our @belfastdesignwk Collab for Irish Design Week back in November!

Kristen's "Dye Box' full of plants, dyes, textiles, books & secret recipes brought her studio environment from her shed in Newtownards to Belfast city centre and celebrated Regenerative Design and learning about our flora and fauna.