The Urban Design Challenge sponsored by Destination CQ was a project we developed to bring together emerging designers to come together to design Urban Design ideas and interventions for the spaces between buildings within the Cathedral Quarter area of Belfast.
For anyone who hasn’t finished (or started) their Christmas shopping our latest Creative Roundup features 12 markets and shops you still have time to visit to support local creatives this Christmas
01. Portview Christmas Market
Opening dates & times:
Friday 19th December 6 – 10pm
Saturday 20th December 12 – 4pm
Venue: 310 Newtonards rd, Belfast, Belfast, Antrim BT4 1HE
02. Cathedral Quarter Christmas Sunday Art Market
Date: Sunday 21st December 10am – 3pm
Venue: Hill Street, Cathedral Quarter Belfast
03. St George’s Market
Opening dates & times:
Monday 22 Dec 9–3
Tuesday 23 Dec 9–3
Wednesday 24 Dec 8–2
04. Belfast Christmas Market
Runs to December 22nd at Belfast City Hall, open Mon-Wed (10am-8pm), Thu-Sat (10am-10pm), and Sun (12pm-6pm).
05. Born & Bred
Unique gifts and accessories, created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland based on Ann Street, Belfast.
06. Story Box
Storybox, a Belfast-based social enterprise, sources and sells ethical gifts from local makers, social enterprises, and sustainable brands
Address: Storybox Shop, Unit D2 Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 1HE
07. Hunter Paper Co
Hunter Paper Co. is an independent business based in Belfast, Northern Ireland producing luxury letterpress stationery, greetings cards and more
Address: 255 Upper Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 3JF
08. Maven
Belfast shop features modern furniture, lighting, homeware and gifts from some of the world’s leading design brands as well as smaller independent makers.
Address: The Bank, 364 Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 6GL
09. Craft NI Gallery Shop
Shop from some of Northern Ireland’s many talented designer-makers!
Address: 115, 119 Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1FF
10. Belfast School of Art Artshop
Open until 20th December
Address: York Street, Belfast
11. Duncairn Art Shop
Drop in to shop amazing and affordable prints, T-shirts, unique crochet creations, cards and jewellery amongst other things
Address: Duncairn Avenue, Belfast, Co Antrim BT14 6BP
12. Wrapped up
Unique gifts, souvenirs, jewellery and art. Locally made by artists across Ireland.
Addresses: Lisburn and Ormeau Road and Castlecourt
Dec 19
Very grateful to work in such a beautiful part of the city especially at this time of the year. Thanks to all the local busineses for doing such lovely Christmas decorations, makes such a difference to the area!
Dec 17
Thanks to Rachael Armstrong @rachaelpaintsweddings one of our Great Northern Street residents for painting this lovely Christmas window in our Great Northern Street studios!
Dec 16
Thanks to @rachaelpaintsweddings one of our Great Northern Street residents for painting this lovely Christmas window in our Great Northern Street studios!
Dec 11
Our beautiful Hill St studios. Hill St is a lovely cobbled street right in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter there are lots of arts and cultural organisations as well as bars and coffee shops and of course the art college nearby!
Our studios are based in an historic loft building, complete with original beams and pulley system! It has high ceilings a lovely wooden floor and lots of light and plants of course!
Our Hill St studios can also be used as a virtual office for creatives who want a professional city centre address for their business.
You can find more information on our Hill St studios and available workspace on our website link below and in profile
https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/
Dec 4
Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives
01. Illustrators North Smile Please Exhibition
Illustrators North are super excited to announce that they are doing their very first Illustrators North Annual exhibition celebrating their fantastically talented members and friends, here in Northern Ireland!
The exhibition is happening on December 4th Late Night Art Belfast at the Black Box Belfast from 6pm onwards!
02. WeBuild Programme
WeBuild is open to applications from across the island of Ireland. WeBuild is for ambitious women founders and entrepreneurs who have identified a significant problem with global potential and are developing tech-powered products or platforms to solve it.
Closing date: Tuesday 9th December 12pm
03. Creative Ireland Programme
The Creative Ireland Programme is delighted to announce three new funding calls to a combined value of €4.6 million supporting creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland
04. Belfast City Council Vacant to Vibrant
Belfast City Council has secured an additional £700k in capital funding to extend the Vacant to Vibrant Citywide scheme (excluding the city centre). Please note that the scheme operates citywide but excludes the city centre boundary.
Applications are now open for this new round of funding, contact vacanttovibrant@belfastcity.gov.uk to request an application pack.
05. Design Generators Funding
Apply for funding to combine design-led interventions with arts and humanities methodologies to make positive contributions to the green transition.
Opening date: 2 February 2026 9:00am UK time
Closing date: 9 April 2026 4:00pm UK time
06. Creative Lives Micro Grant
Creative Lives’ latest micro-grant competition is all about the power of networks, and how partnerships can help groups achieve things they couldn’t on their own.
Tell them your story, and they will give a £250/€290 micro-grant to their favourite! They are particularly keen to hear from grassroots, community-led creative groups who, through a partnership, have been able to carry out projects previously out of reach.
Deadline: Friday 12 December 2025
Dec 3
November was another busy month for us at Blick.
We started the month by facilitating a Finance Fair for the @artscouncilni on Friday 7th November in the MAC.
On Wednesday evenings we hosted @homewerk.project for their Creative Adventure Club in our Hill St studios
We worked with @kitschsistersbelfast to put on a Creative Affirmations Cards workshop for creative women.
We finished the month with taking part in an Ideas Lab panel discussion in Ulster University Belfast for their Students as Entrepreneurs programme.
It was also @irishdesignweek from 17th - 21st November. For that we worked with @belfastdesignwk @onebite.design and @futureislandisland to put on a series of design talks on the theme Islands of Design in Belfast School of Art.
We worked with Future Island-Island and Belfast Design Week to organise a design workshop for architecture students from both Ulster University and Queens University facilitated by onebite design in the beautiful Kitsch Sisters Workshop Space in Olive Tree House.
We also helped organise a popup design exhibition of Future Island-Island design fellows work alongside 10 emerging designers on the ground floor of Belfast School of Art and the @architecturenorthernireland Design Box that ran throughout Irish Design Week.
https://blickstudios.org/blog/last-month-at-blick-november/
Dec 2
Do one thing at a time and be present and focus on quality of time over quantity of time.
Some Monday motivation and great advice from Rachael Armstrong @rachaelpaintsweddings , a portrait artist, Blick creative resident and busy mum of young children on overcoming her biggest hurdle as a new creative business owner - time limitations and `mummy guilt`.
Especially good to remember as we move into the month of December and the busy festive period.
Rachael did an interview for us earlier this year which you can read on our website blog (link in profile)
Dec 1
In this ‘Meet the Resident’ we get to know portrait artist Rachael Armstrong, one of our Great Northern Street creative residents! you can also read the full blog on our website
Nov 27
Some pics from our vision board workshop with Kitsch Sisters last Sunday!
Our next workshop is Creative Affirmation Cards on Sunday 23rd November
https://blickstudios.org/events/womenfolk-x-kitsch-sisters-a-creative-affirmations-workshop/
Nov 6
Last month at Blick. We have loads of great things coming up this month too which you can find on our website
https://blickstudios.org/events/
Nov 3
** SHARED CREATIVE WORKSPACE - 1 DEDICATED DESKSPACE AVAILABLE HILL ST CATHEDRAL QUARTER **
We have one dedicated deskspace available in our beautiful Hill St studios from 1st November
– £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 information. Link below and in profile
�https://blickstudios.org/locations/hill-street-belfast/
Oct 30
**ISLANDS OF DESIGN - DESIGN TALKS **
As part of @irish_designweek we are working with @belfastdesignwk @onebite.design and @futureislandisland to showcase creative projects and stories from the islands of Rathlin, Ireland and Hong Kong at this evening of design talks.
Through the lenses of design, architecture and sustainability, they will share ideas on how islands could use design and creative thinking to innovate, collaborate and support people, place and our planet, and showcase projects from islands with populations of 150 people to those of 7.5 million people.
Future Island–Island is an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded project supported by the Design Museum’s Future Observatory and led by Ulster University in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, The Glasgow School of Art and the University of the Arts London.
A “pop-up design museum” of work from the Islands of Design projects will be shared throughout Irish Design Week from 17th – 21st November in the Belfast School of Art and Cathedral Quarter in Belfast alongside this evening of talks. It will be free of charge with no tickets required.
You can book tickets for the talk on the events page of our website or the Belfast Design Week website
https://blickstudios.org/events/islands-of-design-design-talks/
Oct 29
** ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND FINANCE FAIR - FULLY BOOKED **
We are delighted to be taking part in this exciting series of free Self-Care Workshops for Individual Artists being organised by The Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Taking place on the 7th November we will be delivering one-to-one 30 minute sessions helping artists to take steps to take control and be more confidenct about their business finances. The aim of the sessions is to take the the fear out of finances for artists with informative, but down to earth approachable financial information, resources and sign-posting. To make taking steps to understanding and taking control of your own finances less scary and stressful for artists.
The sessions are now fully booked, but do check out all the other great events as part of the program and thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for inviting us to be part of it, we are really looking forward to it
Oct 28
Another chance to read our interview with BBC Radio Producer Owen McFadden ahead of his Creative Audio Workshop in our Hill St studios tomorrow morning
You can still grab a ticket to his workshop via the link below or in our profile
https://blickstudios.org/events/digital-brunch-creative-audio-for-beginners/
Oct 24
Our latest roundup of local and international funding, support & opportunities for NI creatives
01. Individual Artists Digital Evolution Awards
Programme Objectives
Upskilling NI artists in the use of new, emerging and immersive technology
Creation of excellent Digital Art
Programme Priorities
Creation of digital arts
Creating opportunities for audiences to experience digital and immersive arts
Encouraging cross-sectoral collaboration
Closing date: Thursday 27th November, 12:00PM
02. Digital Arts Studios Home Residency
The DAS Home Residency provides four months for you to develop a project of your choice, expanding your skills and practice.
Open to artists across Ireland and the UK, we welcome proposals from artists whose work employs digital technologies to challenge artistic boundaries and reimagine the cultural landscape.
Closing date: Sunday 16th November, Midnight
03. Imagine! Festival of Ideas and Politics – Call for Events
The Imagine! Belfast Festival returns during 23–29 March 2026 and they are once again inviting you to send them ideas for an event as part of the festival.
Closing date: Friday 7th November
04. Vault Christmas Market Call For Stallholders
This year’s Christmas Market is taking place on the first weekend of December (Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th) in Carlisle Memorial Church.
Closing date: Monday 27th of October
05. Belfast City Council Social Economy Incentive Fund
Apply now if you have a new or early stage social economy or co-operative business and want support to grow your venture further. The
fund can provide between £1,000 and £10,000 to help with things like equipment, skills development, set-up costs and specialist support.
Closing date: Tuesday 11th November 2025, 4pm
06. Craft NI Call For Facilitators
Craft NI is seeking expressions of interest from practitioners or facilitators who can deliver professional development sessions for craft
makers across Northern Ireland.
Closing date: Sunday 2nd November
Full listings including links on our blog (link below and in profile)
https://blickstudios.org/blog/13044/
Oct 24
Some pics from a fab workshop hosted by @homewerk.project for us earlier this year on Adventures in ChatGPT.
This Saturday morning they are back with us hosting a ‘Creative Audio Workshop’ with radio and audio producer Owen McFadden from WhyFi Productions, who’ll draw on his experience of creating award-winning audio for BBC Radio Ulster, Radio 4 and more, to give insights into the basics of recording, editing, and shaping audio into compelling listening.
Whether you’re curious about podcasting, oral history, or creative soundscapes, this session will give you time and inspiration to think about the potential and power of audio.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Event Date(s): Saturday 25th October
Event Time: 10.00 am - 12.15pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: £15.00
More info & booking: https://blickstudios.org/events/digital-brunch-creative-audio-for-beginners/
Oct 23
A workshop I definitely want to sit in on! Audio content is such a powerful way to tell stories. Hoping to find new ways we can bring it into our projects at Blick. We’ve already seen the impact through past projects Small Town Big Dreams and Our Time is Now (https://blickstudios.org/our-time-is-now/
** DIGITAL BRUNCH WORKSHOP: CREATIVE AUDIO FOR BEGINNERS **
This Saturday morning in our Hill St studios as part of @homewerk.project, talented BBC radio producer Owen McFadden of @whyfiproductions will be sharing some of his secrets for audio creativity in this creative audio for beginners workshop.
Fresh from winning gold at the 2025 British Podcast Awards for a history podcast documentary on the Brighton Bomb, Owen is also the producer of The Ticket, BBC Radio Ulster`s most essential arts show.
Whether you’re curious about podcasting, oral history, or creative soundscapes, this session will give you time and inspiration to think about the potential and power of audio.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Date: Saturday 25th October
Time: 10.00am – 12.15pm
Location: Blick Studios, Hill Street, Belfast
Cost: £15.00
(price includes light refreshments)
Booking link below and in profile
https://blickstudios.org/events/digital-brunch-creative-audio-for-beginners/
Oct 22
Some pics from our last creative talk with Ciaran Crudden founder of @lastbrand.studio sharing his creative story!
Oct 22
