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Events at Blick Studios

Decolonial Poetics

Event Date(s): October 5, 2025

Event Time: 5.00-7.00pm

Location: 65 Great Northern Street, Belfast, BT9 7FL

Join Blick Residents Seaside Books for a six-week poetry workshop in our Great Northern Street Studios starting October 5th. Sessions will be held on Sundays from 5-7 pm GMT. £30...

Gallery 545 ‘Re-imagined Places’ Group Exhibition

Event Date(s): August 20, 2025

Location: Gallery 545 at La Roche House, Belfast & online

20 -24 August 2025 Blick resident Gallery 545 presents ‘Re-imagined Places’, an exhibition of original artworks inspired by landscapes created by accomplished artists based in Northern Ireland. A diverse art...

Nurture End Of Program Creative Talks

Event Date(s): May 28, 2025

Event Time: 7pm

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

Our Nurture Creative Talks will be showcasing the creatives who took part in our 8 month Nurture incubation programme! Join us on Wednesday 28th May in our Great Northern Street Studios to...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): May 27, 2025

Event Time: 7pm-9pm

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

It’s very simple, but also very effective. Starting again in March 2025 on the last Tuesday of each month we will host a get together with a small group of...

Danni Simpson Artist & Illustrator

Creative Talk with Artist & Illustrator Danni Simpson

Event Date(s): May 7, 2025

Event Time: 7pm - 8pm

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

Come join us for our next creative talk with the talented artist and illustrator, Danni Simpson sharing her creative story! Get inspired by Danni's journey, learn about her creative process,...

Seaside Books: Intermediate Weekly Poetry Workshop

Event Date(s): May 6, 2025

Event Time: 6.30pm

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

Join Blick Residents Seaside Books for a six-week poetry workshop in our Great Northern Street Studios starting May 6. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00 pm GMT (dates...

Seaside Books: Beginners Weekly Poetry Workshop

Event Date(s): May 4, 2025

Event Time: 2 - 4pm

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

Join Blick residents Seaside Books for a six-week poetry workshop starting May 4. Sessions will be held on Sundays from 2 to 4 pm GMT (dates and times are listed...

Creative Talk with Illustrator Lauren Kelso

Event Date(s): April 9, 2025

Event Time: 7pm-8pm

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

Join us for our April Blick Creative Talk on Wednesday 9th April with upcoming illustrator Lauren Kelso sharing her creative story! At Blick we like to share the stories of creatives at different stages...

Creative Skills Workshop – Adventures in ChatGPT

Event Date(s): April 2, 2025

Event Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm

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

Is 2025 the year that AI changes everything? Is AI going to make the work life of creatives easier? Or are you going to be replaced? What are the differences...

Creative Skills Workshop – Strategic Goal Setting

Event Date(s): March 23, 2025

Event Time: 10am - 5pm

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

The Offering: We’ve come through the darkest part of winter, a time for hunkering down and recharging. Now, as we begin to emerge into a new spring, is a time...

NI Creative Hubs Meetup Spring 2025

Event Date(s): March 28, 2025

Event Time: 11am

Location: Vault Artist Studios & Gallery - Marlborough House 30 Victoria Street Belfast BT1 3GG

This is our first 2025 meetup for creative hubs in Northern Ireland to come together, connect, share ideas and support each other. If you are involved with running or working...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring 2025

Event Date(s): March 25, 2025

Event Time: 7pm

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

It’s very simple, but also very effective. Starting again in March 2025 on the last Tuesday of each month we will host a get together with a small group of...

Creative Talk with Juliette El Fouly Founder of Le Contour Contemporary Candle Company

Event Date(s): March 19, 2025

Event Time: 7pm-8pm

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

Join us on Wednesday, 19th March for our next Blick Creative Talk featuring Juliette El Fouly founder of Le Contour contemporary candle company. About Juliette: “I began my journey in...

Creative Skills Workshop – How to DIY Your Brand (and the common mistakes to avoid)

Event Date(s): March 12, 2025

Event Time: 7pm - 9pm

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

Join us on Wednesday, 12th March for this free creative skills workshop all about branding your creative business. This workshop will be hosted by Laura Whitehouse founder of Mighty Fine Design This workshop...

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

Event Date(s): February 5, 2025

Event Time: 7pm - 8pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB

Join us on Wednesday, 5th February for our next Blick Creative Talk with Ian Pitt, founder and Creative Director of the London - and Belfast-based design studio Me,Him&Her. With nearly...

Design Thinking (and Doing) for Sustainability

Event Date(s): November 13, 2024

Event Time: 3 - 4.30pm

Location: Europa Hotel

We are so excited through our Design Salon collab as part of the Linen Quarter's RE[act] Festival 2024 to have Learning Experience Designer Peter Worth join us for a workshop...

Creative Talk with Stéphanie Heckman Graphic Recorder & Visual Facilitator

Event Date(s): November 6, 2024

Event Time: 7.00 - 8.00pm

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

Our next Creative Talk will be as part of our new Nurture Program with local creative Stéphanie Heckman a graphic recorder and visual facilitator sharing her story! Stephanie will be...

Design Your Life Through Doodles & Drawings

Event Date(s): September 23, 2024

Event Time: 11.45am - 1.00pm

Location: Online

Use the power of doodling, drawing, cutting and sticking to help you look inward, reflect on your life and lifestyle and use the principles of design to help you redesign...

Design Your Life Through Doodles And Drawings To Improve Your Health And Wellbeing

Event Date(s): September 24, 2024

Event Time: 12.00pm - 1.00pm

Location: Online

As part of our new international collaborative project Design Your Life we are hosting a series of online workshops including this Creative Mornings Fieldtrip About the workshop Design your life...

Creative Hubs Meetup #3 Bangor

Event Date(s): August 6, 2024

Event Time: 2.30pm

Location: Boom Studios 80 Main Street Bangor BT20 5AE

This is the third meetup for creative hubs in Northern Ireland to come together, connect, share ideas and support each other. This time in sunny Bangor where we will be...

Blick Academy Creative Talk: Saul Duffin

Event Date(s): June 5, 2024

Event Time: 7pm

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

Our next Blick Academy Creative Talk with a local creative sharing their creative journey is coming up on Wednesday 5th June with Blick resident, designer and Yeo magazine founder Saul...

Womenfolk JUNIOR.SENIOR

Event Date(s): June 15, 2024

Event Time: 11.30am

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

Introducing our new reformatted Womenfolk JUNIOR.SENIOR events. A series of leisurely bi-monthly Saturday morning brunch events for creative women in Belfast. Where over coffee, fruit and pastries within an intimate...

Blick Academy Creative Talk: Paul Boal

Event Date(s): April 17, 2024

Event Time: 7pm

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

Our second Blick Academy Creative Talk of 2024 with local designer and company founder Paul Boal sharing his creative story is coming up this April. Paul Boal is the Founder...

Womenfolk Peer Mentoring

Event Date(s): April 30, 2024

Event Time: 7pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 51 Malone Road, BT9 6RY

It’s very simple, but also very effective. Starting again in April 2024 on the last Tuesday of each month we will host a get together with a small group of...

Blick Animation Club, May 2024

Event Date(s): May 18, 2024

Event Time: 2pm – 4pm

Location: Blick Studios, 51 Malone Road Belfast BT9 6RY

Cost: £15 + Booking Fee

These mini animation master classes by Can Do Academy are a great introduction for children to the colourful world of Lego animation! The workshop will allow participants to make a complete animated...

Creative Hubs Meetup #2

Event Date(s): February 29, 2024

Event Time: 11am

Location: Innovation Factory, 385 Springfield Road, Forthriver Business Park, Belfast, BT12 7DG

NI Creative Hubs Meetup #2 Following a successful get-together in August, this is the second meetup for creative hubs in Northern Ireland to come together, connect, share ideas and support...

Blick Academy Creative Talk: Alana McDowell

Event Date(s): February 7, 2024

Event Time: 7pm

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

This year we are bringing back our Blick Academy series of talks and workshops for creative freelancers, startups and small business owners. Starting with a bang with this talk on...

Blick Animation Club

Blick Animation Club, December 2023

Event Date(s): December 2, 2023

Event Time: 2pm – 4pm

Location: Blick Studios, 51 Malone Road Belfast BT9 6RY

Cost: £17 + Booking Fee

These mini animation master classes by Can Do Academy are a great introduction for children to the colourful world of Lego animation! The workshop will allow participants to make a complete animated...

Blick Autumn Meet

Event Date(s): November 22, 2023

Event Time: 8.00 pm

Location: Blick Shared Studios, 51 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6RY

Autumn get-together for creatives to gain inspiration and connect with other like-minded creatives An informal Autumn get-together for creatives in Belfast. Featuring 2 local creatives sharing their creative journeys and...

Regular Yoga & Pilates Classes

Location: Blick Shared Studios, Malone Road

This is a timetable for the regular yoga classes taught in our South Belfast studios by various facilitators. Monday CLASS: Katonah Yoga TIME: 6.00 – 7.15pm FACILITATOR: Helena Lavery BOOKING LINK ...

Blick Summer Make

Event Date(s): August 6, 2023

Event Time: 3.00 – 5.00pm

Location: Blick Studios, 51 Malone Road Belfast BT9 6RY

Cost: £5 (to cover materials)

An afternoon of making and connecting with other creatives hosted by jewellery designer Lynda Thompson-Spack owner of Fred Loves Ginger This workshop is all about connecting with other creatives and building...

Blick Summer Think

Event Date(s): August 4, 2023

Event Time: 3.30 - 5.30pm

Location: Blick Studios, 51 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6RY

An afternoon of thinking, idea sharing and development and connecting with other NI creatives. Know you want to do something creative, but you aren’t sure exactly what? Have a creative...

Creative Hubs Meetup

Event Date(s): August 23, 2023

Event Time: 11.00am- 1.00pm

Location: Blick Studios, 51 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6RY

A get-together for Creative Hubs from NI to come together to share ideas and information, support each other and potentially come together to work on larger scale projects. The Idea...

-- 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

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

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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

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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.