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Events at Blick Studios

Belfast Community Plant Library

Event Date(s): September 18, 2026

Event Time: 4.00pm-10.00pm

Location: Bankmore Square, Dublin Road, BT7 1DH

Cost: Drop in event

The Belfast Community Plant Library will include an interactive design installation, plant clinic and community co-design workshop bringing together designers, plant enthusiasts and the community to explore Belfast’s relationship with...

Details + Booking

Belfast Community Plant Library: Community Plant Clinic

Event Date(s): September 18, 2026

Event Time: 4.00pm-10.00pm

Location: Bankmore Square, Dublin Road, BT7 1DH

Cost: Drop in event

A special Culture Night plant clinic with local plant expert Jilly Dougan engaging with the public and answering people's questions on plants as well as advising people on the placement...

Details + Booking

Belfast Community Plant Library: Community Co-design Workshop

Event Date(s): September 18, 2026

Event Time: 4.00 - 10.00pm

Location: Bankmore Square, Dublin Road, BT7 1DH

Cost: Drop in event

A special Culture Night co-design workshop that will bring together designers, creators, volunteers and plant experts to bring along their local and native plants and stories about plants to work...

Details + Booking

Belfast Community Plant Library: Interactive Plant Furniture Exhibition

Event Date(s): September 18, 2026

Event Time: 4.00pm-10.00pm

Location: Bankmore Square, Dublin Road, BT7 1DH

Cost: Drop in event

The Belfast Community Plant Library installation will be displayed in Bankmore Square throughout Culture Night so passersby can interact and engage with it. Bringing their own plants and planters to...

Details + Booking

Belfast Writers Group – Creative Writing Workshop

Event Date(s): September 26, 2026

Event Time: 11.00am- 3.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Join Belfast Writers Group for a Saturday afternoon creative writing workshop at Blick Studios on 26th September 2026 11am-3pm. Tickets are £12 per person. Belfast Writers Group is focused on...

Details + Booking

Design Your Own Tiny Ritual – Micro Embroidery Art Workshop

Event Date(s): August 18, 2026

Event Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Join us for our next Womenfolk X Kitsch Sisters Belfast collaborative creative workshop, bringing together creative women to connect, make, and share as part of August Craft Month. We’d love...

Belfast Writers Group – Creative Writing Workshop

Event Date(s): June 27, 2026

Event Time: 11.00am- 3.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Join Belfast Writers Group for a Saturday afternoon creative writing workshop at Blick Studios on 27th June 2026 11am-3pm. Tickets are £12 per person. Belfast Writers Group is focused on...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): June 30, 2026

Event Time: 7.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

On the last Tuesday of each month we host a get together with a small group of self-employed creative women or women in the process of starting a creative business...

Creative Adventure Club

Event Date(s): June 24, 2026

Event Time: 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Squeeze a bit more creativity into your life! Join us for the Spring 2026 season of Creative Adventure Club. Every fortnight you’ll be given a mystery creative assignment, and every...

Creative Adventure Club

Event Date(s): June 10, 2026

Event Time: 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Squeeze a bit more creativity into your life! Join us for the Spring 2026 season of Creative Adventure Club. Every fortnight you’ll be given a mystery creative assignment, and every...

Creative Adventure Club

Event Date(s): May 27, 2026

Event Time: 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Squeeze a bit more creativity into your life! Join us for the Spring 2026 season of Creative Adventure Club. Every fortnight you’ll be given a mystery creative assignment, and every...

Belfast Writers Group – Creative Writing Workshop

Event Date(s): May 30, 2026

Event Time: 10.00am - 2.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Join Belfast Writers Group for a Saturday afternoon creative writing workshop at Blick Studios on May 30th from 10.00-14.00. Tickets are £12 per person. Belfast Writers Group is focused on...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): May 26, 2026

Event Time: 7.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

On the last Tuesday of each month we host a get together with a small group of self-employed creative women or women in the process of starting a creative business...

Seaside Books Intermediate Weekly Poetry Workshop

Event Date(s): May 12, 2026

Event Time: 6.30 - 8.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 65 Great Northern Street, Belfast, BT9 7FL

Join a six-week poetry workshop at Blick Studios starting May 12, 2026. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm GMT (dates and times are listed below)....

Homewerk Project: Belfast By Design

Event Date(s): May 3, 2026

Event Time: 10.00am-12.30pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

A creative adventure. Step into the city with fresh eyes for the May Bank Holiday weekend! As part of Belfast Design Week, this Homewerk Project is a guided creative adventure...

Belfast Writers Group – Creative Writing Workshop

Event Date(s): April 25, 2026

Event Time: 12.00-4.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

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...

Design Stories: Motion Graphic Showcase & Poster Exhibition. Session 1 & Session 2

Event Date(s): May 7, 2026

Event Time: Session 1 8.00pm-9.00pm, Session 2 9.00pm-10.00pm

Location: Belfast Stories (Bank of Ireland Building) 92 Royal Avenue Belfast, BT1 2GU

Design Stories was a collaborative project with Belfast School of Art Graphic Design students and Belfast Design Week with support from Golden Studio which engaged local design students in a...

Rapid Feedback for Makers

Event Date(s): May 6, 2026

Event Time: 11:00am-4:00pm

Location: Belfast School of Art Shop, 25-51 York St, Belfast BT15 1ED

We are delighted to be partnering with Belfast School of Art Shop, Story Box, KMN Creative Consulting and Maven this year for Belfast Design Week to give 8 emerging makers and...

Maureen Laverty: Blick Creative Talk

Blick Creative Talk – Maureen Selina Laverty Product and Fashion Designer

Event Date(s): May 5, 2026

Event Time: 7.00-8.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Join us on 5th May for our next Creative Talk with Blick Resident Maureen Laverty as part of Belfast Design Week. About Maureen: Maureen is a product and fashion designer,...

Womenfolk X Kitsch Sisters Creative Practice Commitment Workshop: Embroidered & Printed Tote Bag

Event Date(s): May 6, 2026

Event Time: 6.00-8.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Make a commitment to your creativity then print or embroider it onto a tote bag as a reminder of the promise you’ve made to yourself. We’re excited to launch a...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): April 28, 2026

Event Time: 7.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

On the last Tuesday of each month we host a get together with a small group of self-employed creative women or women in the process of starting a creative business...

Creative Adventure Club

Event Date(s): April 15, 2026

Event Time: 6.30 - 8.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Would you like to squeeze a bit more creativity into your daily life? Homewerk’s Creative Adventure Club returns to help shake up your routine. Every fortnight we’ll meet in person...

Creative Adventure Club

Event Date(s): April 1, 2026

Event Time: 6.30-8.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

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’s Creative Adventure Club returns to...

Belfast Writers Group – Creative Writing Workshop

Event Date(s): March 28, 2026

Event Time: 12.00-4.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Join Belfast Writers Group for a Saturday afternoon creative writing workshop at Blick Studios on March 28th from 12.00-16.00. Tickets are £12 per person. Belfast Writers Group is focused on...

Basic Event Management For All

A DIY guide to Basic Events Management

Event Date(s): March 23, 2026

Event Time: 7pm-9pm

Location: Hill of the O'Neill & Ranfurly House, Dungannon

On behalf of the Rural Community Network we are facilitating a series of 4 training sessions to support participants to have more confidence when organising rural heritage events. Focus will...

Arts Council of Northern Ireland Personalised Financial Advice Sessions Derry/Londonderry

Event Date(s): March 6, 2026

Event Time: Various

Location: Online

As part of the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery and the Baring Foundation, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland...

Arts Council of Northern Ireland Personalised Financial Advice Sessions Derry/Londonderry

Event Date(s): March 5, 2026

Event Time: Various

Location: Online

As part of the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery and the Baring Foundation, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland...

Belfast Writers Group – Creative Writing Workshop

Event Date(s): February 28, 2026

Event Time: 12.00 - 4.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

Join Belfast Writers Group for a Saturday afternoon creative writing workshop at Blick Studios on February 28th from 12.00-16.00. Tickets are £12 per person. Belfast Writers Group is focused on...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): May 26, 2026

Event Time: 7.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

On the last Tuesday of each month we host a get together with a small group of self-employed creative women or women in the process of starting a creative business...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): April 28, 2026

Event Time: 7.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

On the last Tuesday of each month we host a get together with a small group of self-employed creative women or women in the process of starting a creative business...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): March 31, 2026

Event Time: 7.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

On the last Tuesday of each month we host a get together with a small group of self-employed creative women or women in the process of starting a creative business...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): February 24, 2026

Event Time: 7.00pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB

On the last Tuesday of each month we host a get together with a small group of self-employed creative women or women in the process of starting a creative business...

Pop Culture Poetics

Event Date(s): March 8, 2026

Event Time: 5 - 7pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 65 Great Northern Street, Belfast, BT9 7FL

Pop Culture Poetics is a six-week workshop for writers, creators, and curious minds who want to explore how pop culture can serve as a powerful muse for poetic expression. Sessions...

BELFAST COMMUNITY PLANT LIBRARY AT CULTURE NIGHT

- Interactive plant installation - add and take away plants

- Plant clinic hosted by Jilly Dougan - learn all about growing and caring for edible plants

- Co-design workshop - contribute your ideas for plants in Belfast

- Free Belfast Plant Map designed by Belfast illustrator Thomas Bannon

- Free Flax Seed Planting Kits

- Free Interactive Plant Zine

- Interactive activities

And more

Date: Culture Night - Friday 18th September

Time: From 4pm

Location: Bankmore Square

Everyone is welcome and no booking is required, pop by and say hello!

Sep 18

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18114307682091935

BELFAST COMMUNITY PLANT LIBRARY AT CULTURE NIGHT

- Interactive plant installation - add and take away plants

- Plant clinic hosted by Jilly Dougan - learn all about growing and caring for edible plants

- Co-design workshop - contribute your ideas for plants in Belfast

- Free Belfast Plant Map designed by Belfast illustrator Thomas Bannon

- Free Flax Seed Planting Kits

- Free Interactive Plant Zine

- Interactive activities

And more

Date: Culture Night - Friday 18th September

Time: From 4pm

Location: Bankmore Square

Everyone is welcome and no booking is required, pop by and say hello!

Fingers crossed it will stay dry for @culturenightbelfast this Friday! but just in case the weather is not kind to us our Design Hothouse Residents have been busy designing and making their own shelter for their exhibition as part of the Community Plant Library using sustainable materials!

This will protect their interactive exhibition about plants, design and Belfast which also includes the cutest origami plant pots they have designed that you can pop along and make and take home with you on the night!

About the exhibition:

During the Design Hot House residency our residents @bethschmidt and @rachelcowie_graphics worked collaboratively, exploring how plants are incorporated into Belfast, this included exploring what grows in Belfast, the city’s decorative features in buildings and their part in history and the benefits growing plants has on us and our surroundings. This led them down a few routes of experimentation through cyanotype, collage and creating shapes inspired by features across the city’s buildings and homes which were also melded into the branding of this year’s Design After Dark.

Pop along to Bankmore Square on Friday from 4pm to see their work, learn a bit about plants, design and Belfast and get yourself a mini origami plant pot to take home with you!

Sep 16

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18278656540291006

Fingers crossed it will stay dry for @culturenightbelfast this Friday! but just in case the weather is not kind to us our Design Hothouse Residents have been busy designing and making their own shelter for their exhibition as part of the Community Plant Library using sustainable materials!

This will protect their interactive exhibition about plants, design and Belfast which also includes the cutest origami plant pots they have designed that you can pop along and make and take home with you on the night!

About the exhibition:

During the Design Hot House residency our residents @bethschmidt and @rachelcowie_graphics worked collaboratively, exploring how plants are incorporated into Belfast, this included exploring what grows in Belfast, the city’s decorative features in buildings and their part in history and the benefits growing plants has on us and our surroundings. This led them down a few routes of experimentation through cyanotype, collage and creating shapes inspired by features across the city’s buildings and homes which were also melded into the branding of this year’s Design After Dark.

Pop along to Bankmore Square on Friday from 4pm to see their work, learn a bit about plants, design and Belfast and get yourself a mini origami plant pot to take home with you!

Belfast Community Plant Library Team Plant Stories - @rachelcowie_graphics Multidisciplinary Designer and Design Hothouse Resident.

As part of our Design Hothouse Residency Rachel along with @beth__schmidt created the beautiful artwork for the Community Plant Library, they have also been working hard to create an exhibition for the Community Plant Library event, in Bankmore Square on Culture Night (this Friday from 4pm)

Come along to see their beautiful and enlightening exhibition about plants and Belfast and plants and design.

Here you can read a bit about Rachel and her genuine passion and enthusiasm for plants

Sep 16

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18206588992369444

Belfast Community Plant Library Team Plant Stories - @rachelcowie_graphics Multidisciplinary Designer and Design Hothouse Resident.

As part of our Design Hothouse Residency Rachel along with @beth__schmidt created the beautiful artwork for the Community Plant Library, they have also been working hard to create an exhibition for the Community Plant Library event, in Bankmore Square on Culture Night (this Friday from 4pm)

Come along to see their beautiful and enlightening exhibition about plants and Belfast and plants and design.

Here you can read a bit about Rachel and her genuine passion and enthusiasm for plants

One of my favourite elements of our Community Plant Library project. This beautiful Belfast Plant Map which has been thoughtfully illustrated by Blick resident and talented local illustrator @thomasbannondraws

The Belfast Plant Map shows some of the plants and trees we found (often in unexpected places) growing naturally throughout the city centre. It tells some of the stories of these plants and highlights some of their benefits.

The map also shows some of the places in Belfast City Centre (with varying amounts of plants and nature) where you can pause, sit and enjoy a moment of nature and the benefits it brings to your wellbeing.

Most of these places don`t have as many plants as they could have. Whilst in many ways overall Belfast is a pretty green city with around 2,390 hectares of open space across the city the city centre isn`t as green with some inner-city areas having just 1–7% tree cover, while some outer areas have as much as 43–49%. So, while Belfast is already green in places, there’s a real opportunity to bring more trees, plants and green space into the inner city areas and communities that arguably need them most.�

Call in to see us at Bankmore Square on Culture Night from 4pm to pick up your free Belfast Plant Map

Sep 16

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17961034704238544

One of my favourite elements of our Community Plant Library project. This beautiful Belfast Plant Map which has been thoughtfully illustrated by Blick resident and talented local illustrator @thomasbannondraws

The Belfast Plant Map shows some of the plants and trees we found (often in unexpected places) growing naturally throughout the city centre. It tells some of the stories of these plants and highlights some of their benefits.

The map also shows some of the places in Belfast City Centre (with varying amounts of plants and nature) where you can pause, sit and enjoy a moment of nature and the benefits it brings to your wellbeing.

Most of these places don't have as many plants as they could have. Whilst in many ways overall Belfast is a pretty green city with around 2,390 hectares of open space across the city the city centre isn't as green with some inner-city areas having just 1–7% tree cover, while some outer areas have as much as 43–49%. So, while Belfast is already green in places, there’s a real opportunity to bring more trees, plants and green space into the inner city areas and communities that arguably need them most.�

Call in to see us at Bankmore Square on Culture Night from 4pm to pick up your free Belfast Plant Map

Belfast Community Plant Library Team Plant Stories - David Keys Woodworker

Here we get to meet some of the team behind the project and find out about their love of plants and why they wanted to get involved. Today hearing from @d.keyssustainablewoodworking woodworker and creator of the interactive plant installation that will feature in Friday`s Community Plant Library event at Culture Night. The installation has been thoughtfully designed as a living evolving space, using sustainable materials so passersby can interact with the installation adding and taking away plants throughout the event

Sep 14

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18100013258629136

Belfast Community Plant Library Team Plant Stories - David Keys Woodworker

Here we get to meet some of the team behind the project and find out about their love of plants and why they wanted to get involved. Today hearing from @d.keyssustainablewoodworking woodworker and creator of the interactive plant installation that will feature in Friday's Community Plant Library event at Culture Night. The installation has been thoughtfully designed as a living evolving space, using sustainable materials so passersby can interact with the installation adding and taking away plants throughout the event

COMMUNITY PLANT LIBRARY PLANT CLINIC

A special Culture Night drop-in plant clinic with local plant expert @jillydougan is happening this Friday at Bankmore Square as part of our Community Plant Library event.

Jilly will be sharing her knowledge on edible plants, engaging with the public and answering people’s questions on growing and caring for edible plants.

Come along to Bankmore Square on Friday to get some free samples and learn more about plants 🪴 🌱 🌿 🌾 🌵

Sep 14

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18281120473288450

COMMUNITY PLANT LIBRARY PLANT CLINIC

A special Culture Night drop-in plant clinic with local plant expert @jillydougan is happening this Friday at Bankmore Square as part of our Community Plant Library event.

Jilly will be sharing her knowledge on edible plants, engaging with the public and answering people’s questions on growing and caring for edible plants.

Come along to Bankmore Square on Friday to get some free samples and learn more about plants 🪴 🌱 🌿 🌾 🌵

Belfast Community Plant Library Team Plant Stories - Gardener @jillydougan

Here we get to meet some of the team behind the project and find out about their love of plants and why they wanted to get involved. Starting with gardener @jillydougan who will be hosting a plant clinic for us as part of our event at Culture Night this Friday evening at Bankmore Square

Sep 13

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18488181982096350

Belfast Community Plant Library Team Plant Stories - Gardener @jillydougan

Here we get to meet some of the team behind the project and find out about their love of plants and why they wanted to get involved. Starting with gardener @jillydougan who will be hosting a plant clinic for us as part of our event at Culture Night this Friday evening at Bankmore Square

The Belfast Community Plant Library is a collaborative initiative that connects people, place, plants and creativity.

The Belfast Community Plant Library will pop up at Bankmore Square during Culture Night Belfast 2026 (Friday 18th September, 4pm onwards) and will feature an interactive design installation, workshops and of course, the plant library!

There will also be lots of plant freebies, including Belfast Plant Map, a special zine giveaway, seeds and plants as well as the following activities.

INTERACTIVE PLANT FURNITURE INSTALLTION

At the heart of the project will be an interactive design installation. Designed as a living, evolving space, the installation will invite participation from the public.

The structure will be sustainably manufactured by David Keys Woodworker using environmentally responsible materials.�

PLANT CLINIC

A special Culture Night drop-in plant clinic with local plant expert Jilly Dougan engaging with the public and answering people’s questions on plants and growing and caring for edible plants.

CO-DESIGN WORKSHOP

A community co-design workshop led by One Bite Design Studio will bring together event attendees to collectively shape and build the installation. Participants will be encouraged to contribute plants alongside stories and memories that reflect Belfast’s relationship with plant life and place.

So… come along to learn more about plants, growing and to take, share and swap plants.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday 18th September
Time: from 4pm
Venue: Bankmore Square

Everyone is welcome and no advance booking is required.

Sep 13

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17888972244613366

The Belfast Community Plant Library is a collaborative initiative that connects people, place, plants and creativity.

The Belfast Community Plant Library will pop up at Bankmore Square during Culture Night Belfast 2026 (Friday 18th September, 4pm onwards) and will feature an interactive design installation, workshops and of course, the plant library!

There will also be lots of plant freebies, including Belfast Plant Map, a special zine giveaway, seeds and plants as well as the following activities.

INTERACTIVE PLANT FURNITURE INSTALLTION

At the heart of the project will be an interactive design installation. Designed as a living, evolving space, the installation will invite participation from the public.

The structure will be sustainably manufactured by David Keys Woodworker using environmentally responsible materials.�

PLANT CLINIC

A special Culture Night drop-in plant clinic with local plant expert Jilly Dougan engaging with the public and answering people’s questions on plants and growing and caring for edible plants.

CO-DESIGN WORKSHOP

A community co-design workshop led by One Bite Design Studio will bring together event attendees to collectively shape and build the installation. Participants will be encouraged to contribute plants alongside stories and memories that reflect Belfast’s relationship with plant life and place.

So… come along to learn more about plants, growing and to take, share and swap plants.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday 18th September
Time: from 4pm
Venue: Bankmore Square

Everyone is welcome and no advance booking is required.

Belfast Plant Stories - Biggest or Silliest Plant Care Mistakes

Ahead of our Community Plant Library event at Culture Night next Friday we asked the people of Belfast for their biggest or silliest plant care mistakes...

You can find details of the event on our website

Sep 13

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18078284870371429

Belfast Plant Stories - Biggest or Silliest Plant Care Mistakes

Ahead of our Community Plant Library event at Culture Night next Friday we asked the people of Belfast for their biggest or silliest plant care mistakes...

You can find details of the event on our website

Belfast Plant Stories - What’s your earliest plant memory?

We asked the people of Belfast what their earliest plant memories are.

Sep 11

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18106539812233421

Belfast Plant Stories - What’s your earliest plant memory?

We asked the people of Belfast what their earliest plant memories are.

Belfast Plant Stories - How Taking Care of Plants Makes You Feel

We asked the people of Belfast how taking care of a living green thing changes their mood and makes them feel

Sep 11

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17972645400133230

Belfast Plant Stories - How Taking Care of Plants Makes You Feel

We asked the people of Belfast how taking care of a living green thing changes their mood and makes them feel

How the idea for Belfast Community Plant Library came about after @karishmasworld and I (Christine) visited Hong Kong in 2024 to create a @belfastdesignwk design installation for the British Council Spark Festival.

When we were in Hong Kong we got a last minute invite to visit Alan Cheung in the beautiful @onebite.design studio and saw their Community Plant Library outside and instantly loved the idea of bringing something similar to Belfast.

As a follow on to our recent Grow Your Own Way project that was all about bringing designers and growers together to explore the potential of supporting residents in Belfast’s Botanic and Holylands areas to grow their own food within the city to improve their health and wellbeing.

We also thought the Plant Library was a great accessible, welcoming intervention that used plants to create new opportunities for interaction and improving wellbeing in the city and thought it would translate very well to Belfast.

We kept in touch and in 2025 Alan and his business partner Sarah Mui visited Belfast then later that year we worked together on our Islands of Design project for Irish Design Week, before finally in 2026 we have found the opportunity thanks to support from Belfast City Council to bring the project to Belfast at our next Design After Dark event during Culture Night on Friday 18th September where we will be at Bankmore Square from 4 - 10pm with lots of plant and design related activities including:

- See and interact with our plant library, bringing and taking away plants

- Share your plant stories and wishes and ideas for a greener Belfast

- Learn about how to care for and grow your own edible plants with our plant expert Jilly Dougan

- Learn how to make your own mini planters with Green: Remake

- Pick up a Belfast Plant Map and Zine, as well as some seeds and planting materials

And much more

This is a free drop-in event, just pop by and say hello!

Sep 9

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18077022308427145

How the idea for Belfast Community Plant Library came about after @karishmasworld and I (Christine) visited Hong Kong in 2024 to create a @belfastdesignwk design installation for the British Council Spark Festival.

When we were in Hong Kong we got a last minute invite to visit Alan Cheung in the beautiful @onebite.design studio and saw their Community Plant Library outside and instantly loved the idea of bringing something similar to Belfast.

As a follow on to our recent Grow Your Own Way project that was all about bringing designers and growers together to explore the potential of supporting residents in Belfast’s Botanic and Holylands areas to grow their own food within the city to improve their health and wellbeing.

We also thought the Plant Library was a great accessible, welcoming intervention that used plants to create new opportunities for interaction and improving wellbeing in the city and thought it would translate very well to Belfast.

We kept in touch and in 2025 Alan and his business partner Sarah Mui visited Belfast then later that year we worked together on our Islands of Design project for Irish Design Week, before finally in 2026 we have found the opportunity thanks to support from Belfast City Council to bring the project to Belfast at our next Design After Dark event during Culture Night on Friday 18th September where we will be at Bankmore Square from 4 - 10pm with lots of plant and design related activities including:

- See and interact with our plant library, bringing and taking away plants

- Share your plant stories and wishes and ideas for a greener Belfast

- Learn about how to care for and grow your own edible plants with our plant expert Jilly Dougan

- Learn how to make your own mini planters with Green: Remake

- Pick up a Belfast Plant Map and Zine, as well as some seeds and planting materials

And much more

This is a free drop-in event, just pop by and say hello!

Community Plant Library - Belfast Plant Stories

Exploring Belfast’s relationship with plant life and place through the plant stories of the local community. Plants in some shape or form are an important part of life for most people. Forming some of our earliest memories, helping the environment and positively impacting our health and wellbeing.

As part of the Community Plant Library project we have collected personal plant stories from people across Belfast to explore the different ways plants connect with our lives. On the run up to the event on Culture Night we will be sharing out some of these stories. Starting today by sharing the stories of some of the people from Belfast and why they love plants!

If you love plants let us know why?

Sep 7

Open post by blickstudios with ID 17991855099043755

Community Plant Library - Belfast Plant Stories

Exploring Belfast’s relationship with plant life and place through the plant stories of the local community. Plants in some shape or form are an important part of life for most people. Forming some of our earliest memories, helping the environment and positively impacting our health and wellbeing.

As part of the Community Plant Library project we have collected personal plant stories from people across Belfast to explore the different ways plants connect with our lives. On the run up to the event on Culture Night we will be sharing out some of these stories. Starting today by sharing the stories of some of the people from Belfast and why they love plants!

If you love plants let us know why?

Design After Dark is an evening celebration of contemporary design in Belfast, delivered as part of @belfastdesignwk and Blick Shared Studios. The programme brings together workshops, talks, installations, studio tours, and exhibitions, offering something for everyone to explore and enjoy.

For our first Design After Dark series, we have curated a series of projects including Design Stories, Design Hothouse Residency, the Belfast Community Plant Library & Food Loves Design.

Join us at @culturenightbelfast on Friday 18th September for our interactive Community Plant Library event at Bankmore Square. More details coming soon!

Event artwork created by our very talented Design Hothouse Residents @rachelcowie_graphics and @beth_schmidt who will share details on the process behind their beautiful artwork in coming weeks.

Design After Dark is kindly sponsored by Belfast City Council

Sep 2

Open post by blickstudios with ID 18493212982097010

Design After Dark is an evening celebration of contemporary design in Belfast, delivered as part of @belfastdesignwk and Blick Shared Studios. The programme brings together workshops, talks, installations, studio tours, and exhibitions, offering something for everyone to explore and enjoy.

For our first Design After Dark series, we have curated a series of projects including Design Stories, Design Hothouse Residency, the Belfast Community Plant Library & Food Loves Design.

Join us at @culturenightbelfast on Friday 18th September for our interactive Community Plant Library event at Bankmore Square. More details coming soon!

Event artwork created by our very talented Design Hothouse Residents @rachelcowie_graphics and @beth_schmidt who will share details on the process behind their beautiful artwork in coming weeks.

Design After Dark is kindly sponsored by Belfast City Council

Our latest roundup of funding and opportunities for NI Creatives.

01. Business Innovation Grant

BIG helps support sole traders, micro-businesses and SMEs in Northern Ireland to develop and bring their innovation activities to market with a grant of up to £20,000.

Closing date: 4th September, 12 noon

02.Wear Her Story

Applications are now open for Wear Her Story, a free cross-border creative programme from Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Glow NI that will help young women aged 16 to 25 explore fashion, heritage, wellbeing and emerging digital technologies.

Closing date: 11th September

03. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Offering Visual Artist Residency Opportunity

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is offering a new residency, based at Down Arts Centre in Downpatrick from September 26 to April 27, 2026.

The opportunity is open to a visual artist to provide dedicated time and space to develop their creative practice while engaging with audiences and communities across the district.

Closing date: 9th September

04. National Lottery Rural Engagement Arts Programme

You can apply for an award of between £500 and £10,000 for a project, which can last up to one year and can take place on any dates between 1 December 2026 and 30 November 2027.

Deadline: 24th September, 12noon

05. InvestNI Leadership and Capability

Develop your strategic leadership capability in order to take your business to new heights.

06. Creative Spark Residency Programme 2027

Creative Spark is pleased to offer three Artist-in-Residence opportunities designed to support artistic development, creative exchange, and engagement with our facilities and local community.

07. Creative Belfast Internship

The Belfast Buildings Trust, in partnership with leading cultural organisations, proudly presents the Creative Belfast Internship Programme- the second instalment of a six-month paid internship designed for young people aged 18-25 to gain meaningful experience within Belfast’s vibrant creative and cultural industries.

Deadline: 11th September 5pm

Full listings including links on our website blog

https://blickstudios.org/blog/

Sep 1

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Our latest roundup of funding and opportunities for NI Creatives.

01. Business Innovation Grant

BIG helps support sole traders, micro-businesses and SMEs in Northern Ireland to develop and bring their innovation activities to market with a grant of up to £20,000.

Closing date: 4th September, 12 noon

02.Wear Her Story

Applications are now open for Wear Her Story, a free cross-border creative programme from Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Glow NI that will help young women aged 16 to 25 explore fashion, heritage, wellbeing and emerging digital technologies.

Closing date: 11th September

03. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Offering Visual Artist Residency Opportunity

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is offering a new residency, based at Down Arts Centre in Downpatrick from September 26 to April 27, 2026.

The opportunity is open to a visual artist to provide dedicated time and space to develop their creative practice while engaging with audiences and communities across the district.

Closing date: 9th September

04. National Lottery Rural Engagement Arts Programme

You can apply for an award of between £500 and £10,000 for a project, which can last up to one year and can take place on any dates between 1 December 2026 and 30 November 2027.

Deadline: 24th September, 12noon

05. InvestNI Leadership and Capability

Develop your strategic leadership capability in order to take your business to new heights.

06. Creative Spark Residency Programme 2027

Creative Spark is pleased to offer three Artist-in-Residence opportunities designed to support artistic development, creative exchange, and engagement with our facilities and local community.

07. Creative Belfast Internship

The Belfast Buildings Trust, in partnership with leading cultural organisations, proudly presents the Creative Belfast Internship Programme- the second instalment of a six-month paid internship designed for young people aged 18-25 to gain meaningful experience within Belfast’s vibrant creative and cultural industries.

Deadline: 11th September 5pm

Full listings including links on our website blog

https://blickstudios.org/blog/

The sixth week of our @belfastdesignwk collab Design Hothouse Residency with @rachelcowie_graphics and @beth__schmidt, this week working on finalising details with Blick resident Alex Synge @thefirst47 for the Design After Dark and Community Plant Library artwork to be ready to launch online in time for @culturenightbelfast on Friday 18th September. Then starting to think about how to exhibit the artwork for Culture Night.

We are excited to officially launch both projects and share Rachel and Beths beautiful artwork online later this week!

Aug 31

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The sixth week of our @belfastdesignwk collab Design Hothouse Residency with @rachelcowie_graphics and @beth__schmidt, this week working on finalising details with Blick resident Alex Synge @thefirst47 for the Design After Dark and Community Plant Library artwork to be ready to launch online in time for @culturenightbelfast on Friday 18th September. Then starting to think about how to exhibit the artwork for Culture Night.

We are excited to officially launch both projects and share Rachel and Beths beautiful artwork online later this week!

September is coming, the season of change. We have dedicated deskspaces available in our beautiful Hill St studios for creatives looking for a productive working space in the centre of Belfast`s Cathedral Quarter.
– £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: https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/

Aug 26

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September is coming, the season of change. We have dedicated deskspaces available in our beautiful Hill St studios for creatives looking for a productive working space in the centre of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.
– £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: https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/

Week 5 of our new Design Hothouse Residency with Rachel and Beth, this week working on refinement and layout, the micro-adjustments that elevate the artwork from amateur to professional with @belfastdesignwk co-founder @karishmasworld on Tuesday at Queen’s University Students Union and starting to think about creating supporting assets and Checking layouts, colour ways and formatting with Blick Resident Molly Long to finish the week on Friday.

Aug 24

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Week 5 of our new Design Hothouse Residency with Rachel and Beth, this week working on refinement and layout, the micro-adjustments that elevate the artwork from amateur to professional with @belfastdesignwk co-founder @karishmasworld on Tuesday at Queen’s University Students Union and starting to think about creating supporting assets and Checking layouts, colour ways and formatting with Blick Resident Molly Long to finish the week on Friday.

As the seasons change and we move onto new projects here is a summary of some of my favourite bits from Belfast Design Week 2026, I also wrote a blog about it which is on our website (link in profile and below)

https://blickstudios.org/blog/bdw26-my-best-bits/

Aug 21

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- - Meet The New Design Hothouse Resident: Beth Schmidt - -

In our latest Meet The Resident we get to know the second of our new Design Hothouse residents @beth__schmidt who is currently working as an architectural assistant @studioidir in East Belfast

Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and your creative work?

I work as an architectural assistant at Studio idir in East Belfast, where I contribute to a range of residential and placemaking projects. My work is driven by a passion for community-led design and an interest in re-evaluating food and waste systems, which was a continuous theme throughout my academic work. After graduating from Queen’s University Belfast in 2024, I spent time volunteering for various community-led projects across Europe, engaging in hands-on construction, food preparation, and permaculture farming. This allowed me to create meaningful change on an everyday scale, which I think can be difficult within architectural practice.

Can you tell us why you wanted to take part in the residency

I’m interested in the potential of design in reshaping our cities, which the residency encourages us to explore. The collaborative nature of the project was also important to me – I come from a background of architecture, which is often a very individualistic discipline. Buildings have historically been portrayed as the work and genius of one person, rather than reflecting the vast range of people involved in design and construction processes. I think collaboration enriches design and creates better results, and so I was interested in the opportunity to work with designers from other disciplines throughout the residency.

What would you like to achieve from this residency?

I’d like to explore design within circular economy principles, and create a body of work that is genuinely sustainable and has a positive contribution to the public. I’m also eager to gain experience and insight more generally in delivering the various events, branding, and physical exhibition that the residency links into. Lastly, I’d also like to become more confident in my ability to work within these areas going forward

Aug 19

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- - Meet The New Design Hothouse Resident: Beth Schmidt - -

In our latest Meet The Resident we get to know the second of our new Design Hothouse residents @beth__schmidt who is currently working as an architectural assistant @studioidir in East Belfast

Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and your creative work?

I work as an architectural assistant at Studio idir in East Belfast, where I contribute to a range of residential and placemaking projects. My work is driven by a passion for community-led design and an interest in re-evaluating food and waste systems, which was a continuous theme throughout my academic work. After graduating from Queen’s University Belfast in 2024, I spent time volunteering for various community-led projects across Europe, engaging in hands-on construction, food preparation, and permaculture farming. This allowed me to create meaningful change on an everyday scale, which I think can be difficult within architectural practice.

Can you tell us why you wanted to take part in the residency

I’m interested in the potential of design in reshaping our cities, which the residency encourages us to explore. The collaborative nature of the project was also important to me – I come from a background of architecture, which is often a very individualistic discipline. Buildings have historically been portrayed as the work and genius of one person, rather than reflecting the vast range of people involved in design and construction processes. I think collaboration enriches design and creates better results, and so I was interested in the opportunity to work with designers from other disciplines throughout the residency.

What would you like to achieve from this residency?

I’d like to explore design within circular economy principles, and create a body of work that is genuinely sustainable and has a positive contribution to the public. I’m also eager to gain experience and insight more generally in delivering the various events, branding, and physical exhibition that the residency links into. Lastly, I’d also like to become more confident in my ability to work within these areas going forward