My Block
My Block celebrates and showcases independent businesses and culture and is supported by Innovate UK.
Multi-disciplinary designer Karishma Kusurkar and Blick’s CEO Christine James led the pilot project and were inspired by Independent Liverpool, The Shopkeepers and On The Grid. The team wanted to put together something that was accessible, design-led and showcased a wide range of independent businesses.
“Over the past few years our work has centred around supporting and platforming creative businesses be it through events, commissions, podcasts, publications or projects. The idea for My Block came about at the start of lockdown. We could see the world changing in real-time due to the pandemic and also in turn how that was starting to affect businesses. Some business owners were forced to shut shop, others to pivot to new areas of business and some moved trade online for the first time.
We also noticed the increased support for local businesses with the general public becoming much more aware of what was in their neighbourhood or “block.” We wanted to start something to support independent businesses in the short-term but that would continue to have a lasting impact and that’s how we came up with the initial idea for My Block – a curated online platform championing NI’s independent business and culture.”
My Block is a place for people to discover great new local independent businesses, find things to do locally and to make the most of the rich and diverse indie landscape we have here! It created a place to find all different kinds of businesses on one platform and to find out more about the people running them.
My Block went live at the end of June and has been running successfully ever since, with Karishma taking the lead in the next stage. It has grown to include over 100 Belfast businesses on the platform with more being added from the rest of NI in the coming months.
If you’re an independent business, we’d love to add you to the directory and if you have a local business recommendation we’d love to hear from you.
Learn more at www.whatsonmyblock.com
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It`s December! Christmas is coming, one of the most important seasons for many local creatives who sell direct to consumers! fortunately there are loads of amazing ways you can buy local this year and make it a successful season for the local creatives who rely on this time of year to make an income. Here`s a list of some of our favourites! Let us know of any we missed!
MARKETS & EVENTS
Belfast Potters Market
Location: 2 Royal Ave
Date: Fri 1st & Sat 2nd Dec
Belfast School of Art Christmas Market
Date: Sat 2nd Dec
Arts for all Christmas Craft Fair
Location: Cityside Retail Park
Date: Sat 2nd Dec
Time: 11am - 4pm
Queen Street Studios Open Studios & Mulled Wine
Date: Sat 2nd Dec
Time: 12 - 6pm
Vault Christmas Market
Location: Carlisle Memorial Church
Date: Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd Dec
Time: 12 - 5pm
Belfast Flea
Location: Sunflower Pub
Date: Sun 3rd Dec
Time: 12 - 4pm
Pollen Studios Postcard Exhibition & Art Market
Date: Thu 7th Dec
Time: 6 - 9pm
The Boundary Collective Print Edition
Location: Boundary Tap Room
Date: Thu 7th Dec
Time: 6-9.30pm
Belfast Ceramics Studio
Location: Beersbridge Road
Date: Sat 9th Dec
Time: 12 - 6pm
Twilight Market
Location: 2 Royal Ave
Dates: Thu 7th, 14th & 21st Dec
Time: 5-9pm
Belfast City Hall Christmas Market
Dates: Daily until 22nd Dec
Portview Christmas Market
Location: Banana Block
Dates: Sat 16th Dec 6 - 10pm, Sun 17th Dec 12 - 4pm
St Georges Market
Dates: Various
Maven Mini Mart
Location: 52 Hill Street
Dates: Fri to Sun from Fri 1st Dec
Times: 10am - 5pm
SHOPS
Born & Bred – Unique gifts by NI artisans
Craft NI Gallery – Design-led contemporary craft
Wrapped Up – Some of Ireland’s best contemporary creative products.
Belfast School of Art Shop – Current students & graduates artwork.
Hunter Paper Co – Stationery
Maven – Homeware & furniture
ONLINE
Story Box NI – Gifts from local social enterprises and small businesses
Seaside books – Books by Irish authors
Shesells sanctuary – Artist led collective to raise money for victims of domestic violence
Gallery 545 – Online gallery selling NI artworks
Iris Magazine Store – Online independent magazine store
Full list with links on our blog link in bio
Dec 1
Wednesday Workspace. Working from our Hill St studios today. A lovely cosy oasis of calm away from all the Christmas hustle and bustle
#creativeworkspace #creativehub #studiospace #belfastcitycentre #belfastcathedralquarter
Nov 29
Beautiful start to the week in Belfast with blue skies and sun! just look at the light on our Cotton Court studios at lunchtime today, and directly opposite is the beautiful Merchant Hotel, which is looking especially lovely and festive at the moment 🌞 🎄
#belfastcitycentre #belfastcity #belfastcathedralquarter #creativeworkspace #creativehub #studiospace
Nov 27
Last chance to sign up to attend our Autumn creative talks and meetup tomorrow evening at 8pm in our Malone studios
Just a few tickets left:
https://blickstudios.org/events/blick-autumn-meet/
Nov 21
We`re delighted to announce our final creative speaker for Wednesday evening, our very own current graduate resident designer and illustrator Hannah Griffin!
SPEAKER 3 - HANNAH GRIFFIN - @griffinillustration
Hannah is our current Blick graduate resident and is an illustrator and designer from Belfast Hannah graduated last year, in Graphic design and Illustration at Ulster University. Hannah designs and sells her work based around her personal interests, mythology and nature. Hannah has been working over the last year on becoming a more established illustrator, building her brand and developing her personal style and has recently put together some new branding and artwork for our Womenfolk project as well as a series of cocktail inspired artworks.
You can get more info on all the creatives speaking and sign up for your free ticket on our website (link in profile)
EVENT DETAILS
Blick Autumn Meet
Wednesday: 22nd November
Time: 8.00pm - 9.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, Malone Road
#belfastcreatives #belfastsmallbusiness #creativejourney #creativestories #creativestartups #creativetalk
Nov 20
Join us for a drink and to meet and hear from some amazing local creatives at our Autumn meet this Wednesday
https://blickstudios.org/events/blick-autumn-meet/
Nov 20
We are very pleased to announce our 2nd speaker for our creative talks and Meetup on Wednesday evening at 8pm in our Malone studios
ARTIST MICHAEL WINCHESTER
Michael is an artist living in Belfast, currently focusing on making as much art as possible and trying to get his work out there. Michael’s work is mostly referenced from pop culture or life. At the moment it’s heavily focused on Japanese pop culture.
We did an interview with Michael that you can find on our website here: https://blickstudios.org/.../meet-the-resident-artist.../
You can also see more of Michael’s work on instagram @michaelwinchester98
For more info on all the creatives sharing their stories and to book your free ticket visit our website link in profile or below https://blickstudios.org/events/blick-autumn-meet/
#creativestartups #artisttalks #artistsoninstagram #artisttalk #creativejourney #creativestories #creativeinspiration
Nov 19
Our next meetup and evening of talks for creatives is next Wednesday evening at 8pm in our Malone studios. We will have 3 amazing local creatives at diffferent stages of their careers sharing their stories and talking about perfectionism and the impact it has had on their work!
Speaker 1 - Benji Connell
Benji is an architecturally trained freelance illustrator and artist, with over 7 years of industry experience. Benji set up Concrete Clouds in summer 2019, having spent a number of years in architectural practice in London, scribbling and sketching, before deciding to set up his own illustration studio to focus on his passion and continue to scribble and sketch. Concrete Clouds had long ago been the name of Benji’s failed band; as attempts to become a rockstar didn’t quite pan out, the name was up for grabs and appropriately felt right for an architectural illustration studio.
Benji graduated with a Diploma in Architecture from the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, where he was nominated for the Bram Stoker Medal acknowledging the most imaginative work across the art school. In the years since, Benji became a Member of the Society of Architectural Illustration, the world’s oldest and most prestigious architectural illustration organisation.
Benji is an avid traveller and urban sketcher and was a 2018 recipient of the John Kinross Scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, commissioned to draw and produce artwork inspired by an extended stay in Florence. He has exhibited work internationally, from Edinburgh to Sao Paulo. His work has also featured in a number of publications for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, in addition to Perspective magazine and The Big Conversation.
@concreteclouds__
https://concreteclouds.co.uk/
Find out more and book your tickets on our website link in our profile ✨️
#creativebusiness
#creativestories
#creativeinspiration #belfastsmallbusiness #belfastcreatives #creativebusinessowners #creativestartups
Nov 17
Looking forward to this on Wed 22nd Nov, join us at 8pm in our Malone studios for a glass of wine and a chat and to hear from 2 local creatives at different stages of their creative journey!
SPEAKER 1 – BENJI CONNELL ILLUSTRATOR & ARTIST
Benji is an architecturally trained freelance illustrator and artist, with over 7 years of industry experience. Benji set up Concrete Clouds in summer 2019, having spent a number of years in architectural practice in London, scribbling and sketching, before deciding to set up his own illustration studio to focus on his passion and continue to scribble and sketch. Concrete Clouds had long ago been the name of Benji’s failed band; as attempts to become a rockstar didn’t quite pan out, the name was up for grabs and appropriately felt right for an architectural illustration studio.
Benji graduated with a Diploma in Architecture from the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, where he was nominated for the Bram Stoker Medal acknowledging the most imaginative work across the art school. In the years since, Benji became a Member of the Society of Architectural Illustration, the world’s oldest and most prestigious architectural illustration organisation.
Benji is an avid traveller and urban sketcher and was a 2018 recipient of the John Kinross Scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, commissioned to draw and produce artwork inspired by an extended stay in Florence. He has exhibited work internationally, from Edinburgh to Sao Paulo. His work has also featured in a number of publications for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, in addition to Perspective magazine and The Big Conversation.
https://concreteclouds.co.uk/
More info & tickets on our website (link in profile) or visit https://blickstudios.org/events/blick-autumn-meet/
Nov 10
BLICK AUTUMN MEET SPEAKER 1 – BENJI CONNELL ILLUSTRATOR & ARTIST
We are very excited for our Autumn get together on Wed 22nd Nov to welcome back one of our past residents, the immensely talented Benji Connell illustrator and artist
@benjiconnell
@concreteclouds__
Benji will share his creative story and also talk about perfectionism and the impact it has had on his creative work and journey.
Benji is an architecturally trained freelance illustrator and artist, with over 7 years of industry experience. Benji set up Concrete Clouds in summer 2019, having spent a number of years in architectural practice in London, scribbling and sketching, before deciding to set up his own illustration studio to focus on his passion and continue to scribble and sketch. Concrete Clouds had long ago been the name of Benji’s failed band; as attempts to become a rockstar didn’t quite pan out, the name was up for grabs and appropriately felt right for an architectural illustration studio.
Benji graduated with a Diploma in Architecture from the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, where he was nominated for the Bram Stoker Medal acknowledging the most imaginative work across the art school. In the years since, Benji became a Member of the Society of Architectural Illustration, the world’s oldest and most prestigious architectural illustration organisation.
Benji is an avid traveller and urban sketcher and was a 2018 recipient of the John Kinross Scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, commissioned to draw and produce artwork inspired by an extended stay in Florence. He has exhibited work internationally, from Edinburgh to Sao Paulo. His work has also featured in a number of publications for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, in addition to Perspective magazine and The Big Conversation.
https://concreteclouds.co.uk/
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date: Wednesday November 22, 2023
Event Time: 8.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 51 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6RY
Cost: Free
Book your free tickets on our website (link in profile)
Nov 7
Our next Blick Animation Club event is on Sat 2nd December in our Malone Studios
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 Lego film on an iPad, using sound effects, visual effects, titles and lots of imagination!
Your child will learn to use special iPad apps and they will receive a copy of their film at the end of the session! They can bring their own Lego characters or use the ones supplied by us.
More info at candoacademy.co.uk
Please note that these workshops are suitable for children aged 7+
Event Date(s): December 2, 2023
Event Time: 2pm – 4pm
Location: Blick Studios, 51 Malone Road Belfast BT9 6RY
Cost: £17 + Booking Fee
Book through our website (link in profile)
Nov 5
Here`s the first exercise from our new resources for creatives section on our website for anyone who missed it last week and wants to spend sometime reflecting on their creative idea and what they hope to experience and achieve!
Developing and Defining Your Creative Idea Exercise: Getting To Know Yourself
The first exercise on our new resources for creatives section on our website is a lovely activity for a Sunday afternoon or evening.
Perfect for some gentle reflection it`s all about getting to know yourself to help you to define and develop your creative idea.
Better understanding yourself as a person, what drives and motivates you, your hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses, will help you define your creative idea. It will steer you to an idea that makes you happy and fulfilled and fits with your life, your goals and your aspirations.
Below are some prompts for you to explore to help you make the right decisions for you. Not just the easy or expected choices, but ones that really make you come alive and help you create the life that you really want.
- Are you living the life that you want?
- If not, what do you need to change?
- What is your dream life and lifestyle?
- Are you earning the money you need to live your dream life?
- What do you think are your strengths?
- What do you think you could work on?
- What skills would you like to develop?
- How would you like to challenge yourself?
- How would you like to challenge yourself?
- What would you most like to achieve in life?
- What do you most like to do?
- What makes you come alive?
- If you were to look back on your life, what would you most regret not doing?
You can also download the exercise as a PDF or Word document from our website (link in profile)
Nov 5
* AVAILABLE WORKSPACE *
From mid-November we have some workspace coming available in our Malone and Hill St studios
* PRIVATE STUDIO MALONE RD *
We have one small 1-2 person private studio space coming available in our Malone studios from mid-November. It is £325 per calendar month no VAT and all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities, broadband, 24 hour access and use of meeting rooms). Contracts are for a minimum of 3 months then on a rolling monthly contract.
More info on the Malone studios page of our website (link in profile) or visit:
https://blickstudios.org/locations/malone-road-belfast/
Or email christine@blickstudios.org
* SHARED WORKSPACE HILL ST *
From mid-November we will have 2 adjacent dedicated deskspace available in our mezzanine shared workspace in our Hill Street studios. £165 per calendar month for 1 desk or £265 per calendar month for both desks no VAT and all inclusive (rent, rates, utilities, broadband, 24 hour access). Contracts are for a minimum of 3 months then on a rolling monthly contract.
More info on the Hill St studios page of our website (link in profile) or visit: https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/
Or email christine@blickstudios.org
Nov 1
Here`s another reminder of our Creative Roundup of upcoming events, opportunities, funding and support for creatives
Full listings including links on our blog: https://blickstudios.org/blog/11591/ or find the link in our profile
Oct 31
Developing and Defining Your Creative Idea Exercise: Getting To Know Yourself
The first exercise on our new resources for creatives section on our website is a lovely activity for a Sunday afternoon or evening.
Perfect for some gentle reflection, it`s all about getting to know yourself to help you to define and develop your creative idea.
Better understanding yourself as a person, what drives and motivates you, your hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses, will help you define your creative idea. It will steer you to an idea that makes you happy and fulfilled and fits with your life, your goals and your aspirations.
Below are some prompts for you to explore to help you make the right decisions for you. Not just the easy or expected choices, but ones that really make you come alive and help you create the life that you really want.
- Are you living the life that you want?
- If not, what do you need to change?
- What is your dream life and lifestyle?
- Are you earning the money you need to live your dream life?
- What do you think are your strengths?
- What do you think you could work on?
- What skills would you like to develop?
- How would you like to challenge yourself?
- How would you like to challenge yourself?
- What would you most like to achieve in life?
- What do you most like to do?
- What makes you come alive?
- If you were to look back on your life, what would you most regret not doing?
You can also download the exercise as a PDF or Word document from the Resources for Creatives section on our website (link in profile)
#nicreatives #supportforcreatives
#smallbusinesssupport
#creativebusiness #creativebusinesssupport #belfastsmallbusiness #creativefreelancer
Oct 29
- - B L I C K A U T U M N M E E T - -
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 talking about perfectionism and their creative work. They will each share their creative journeys and talk about how they deal with perfectionism and explore the role of perfectionim within their creative practice and how they have learnt to move past perfectionism to bring their creative ideas to life.
Speakers to be announced shortly!
Event Date(s): November 22, 2023
Event Time: 8.00pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 51 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6RY
Cost: Free
Book tickets on our website (link in profile) or visit: https://blickstudios.org/events/blick-autumn-meet/#booking
Oct 25
Our Creative Roundup of Funding, Support, Events & Opportunities for Creatives
INCUBATORS, ACCELERATORS & RESIDENCIES
Worth Partnership Project - Open Call for Creatives
10.000 to 20.000 EURO in financial support
Deadline: 27 Nov
European Digital Deal - Open Call for Artists
The selected artists will receive a 25.000 EUR grant to complete their project.
Deadline: 30 Nov
Accelerate Green
Deadline: 10 Nov
Creative Sparks Residency
Deadline: 27 Oct
FUNDING, SUPPORT & OPPORTUNITIES
- Tackling textiles grant
- Ambition to Grow
- Michael McLaverty Short Story Award 2023
- Community Arts Partnership’s Poetry in Motion Anthology ‘- -`Manifest’ - Submissions Open
- Creative Debuts - Black Artists Grant
- Boom Studios Trade Monthly Peer Learning Programme
- Fighting Words NI - Youth Publishing Opportunity
- Access specialist Technical Consultancy support to achieve energy and cost savings for your business.
- Commission Opportunity - University of Atypical
- Flying Eye Submissions
- InterTradeIreland’s Business Explorer Programme
- Women’s Prize Trust Submissions Now Open
TRAINING, COURSES & WORKSHOPS
- NI Screen training scheme for Virtual Production
- Women in Business Building Futures Programme
- Belfast Exposed Photography Courses
- Immersive Technology Journeys Workshop
- Arts & Business Northern Ireland Events
- Free Online Events for Writers with Women’s Prize Trust and ClassFest
FESTIVALS & CONFERENCES
Belfast International Arts Festival
Dates: 12 Oct to 5 Nov
Belfast Film Festival
Dates: 2 to 11 Nov
Belfast XR Festival
Dates: 4th & 5th Nov
Beyond Conference
Dates: 21 - 22 Nov
EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS
Seedhead arts -The Incrementals – Holly Pereira
Date: Wed 25th Oct
Seminar Series: Decision Making for Better Outcomes
Date: Thurs 26th Oct
NESTA How to turn big ideas into reality
Date: Thurs 16 Nov
IEF Tenx9 Transform
Date: Thursday 30th November
Exhibition: Recent Pictures by John Coffey
Dates: 4 – 28th Oct
Naughton Gallery For Life Exhibition by American photographer Faith Couch
Dates: 25.10.23 - 03.12.23
Women Techmakers Book Club
Date: Thurs 9th Nov
See full details including links on our blog (link in bio)
Oct 23
A beautiful Autumnal day with all the lovely trees in leafy South Belfast!
We have a number of independent yoga and pilates instructors who hire our Malone studios for their regular classes. This helps support our work as a creative organisation.
Their Autumn terms are well under way! Below is the current timetable of regular classes. On our website under the events section you can find the different links to book classes directly with the different teachers
MONDAY
CLASS: Katonah Yoga
TIME: 6.00 – 7.15pm
FACILITATOR: Helena Lavery
CLASS: Pilates
TIME: 7.45 – 8.30pm
FACILITATOR: Pilate by Charlene
TUESDAY
CLASS: Ashtanga Mysore Evening
TIME: 6.00 – 8.00pm
FACILITATOR: Gabriella Nicholson, The Yoga Tree
WEDNESDAY
CLASS: Katonah Yoga
TIME: 6.00 – 7.15pm
FACILITATOR: Helena Lavery
THURSDAY
CLASS: Tribal Restore
TIME: 7.30 – 8.20pm
FACILITATOR: Niamh Dumigan, Tribal UK
FRIDAY
CLASS: Ashtanga Mysore Morning Self-Practice
TIME: 6.30 – 8.30am
FACILITATOR: Gabriella Nicholson, The Yoga Tree
SATURDAY
CLASS: Ashtanga Led Class
TIME: 9.00 – 10.30am
FACILITATOR: Gabriella Nicholson, The Yoga Tree
https://blickstudios.org/events/regular-yoga-pilates-classes/
Oct 22
Working in our Hill St studios today on a lot of admin and doing my best to avoid all the comfy sofas, knowing that if I sit down I won`t ever want to get up
#procrastination #sharedworkspace #creativeworkspace #creativehub
Oct 18
Delighted and relieved to have recently finished our updated website and made it live. It took a while to put together all the copy, but we are really pleased with the end result and the options it gives us for sharing content now and in the future. Making our website a useful resource for creatives starting out as well as for promoting our organisation and the services we offer.
https://blickstudios.org/
Oct 17
