TRUSTEES REPORT
1ST MARCH 2022 - 28TH FEBRUARY 2023
Signed:
Date: 14th Dec 2023
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 28[TH] FEBRUARY 2023
The trustees are pleased to present their annual trustees’ report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 28[th] February 2023
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2023
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LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
CHARITY NAME Blick Shared Studios
TRUSTEES Mr J Haran
Mr A Fee
Miss C McGinnis
Mr T Brundle
CHARITY NUMBER: NIC102158
HMRC CHARITY NUMBER: XT24456
COMPANY NUMBER: NI062998
REGISTERED ADDRESS: 51 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RY
OTHER ADDRESSES:
46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Unit 7, Cotton Court, 30 - 42 Waring Street, Belfast, BT1 2ED
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CONTENTS
SECTION 1
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About Blick Shared Studios
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The Journey So far
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Organisation Purposes
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Organisation Aims
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Organisation Beneficiaries
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Organisation Recognition
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SECTION 2 - Our purposes, activities, and their beneficiaries 1st March 2022 - 28th February 2023
- **PURPOSE:** Blick’s Creative Industry workspace, studio and incubation space - **PURPOSE:** Blick’s technical and business advice for artists, craftspersons and Creative Industry businesses - **PURPOSE:** Blick’s permanent gallery and multi-purpose space - **PURPOSE:** Blick’s information and support network for artists, craftspersons and Creative Industry businesses
SECTION 3 - Projects and Activities
SECTION 4 - Structure, Governance and Management
SECTION 5 - Financial Review
SECTION 6 - Blick’s information and support network for artists, craftspersons and Creative Industry businesses
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ABOUT BLICK SHARED STUDIOS
Blick Shared Studios provides workspace, services and support for creatives in Belfast. In setting our objectives and planning our activities for Blick Shared Studios for the year the trustees gave careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve Blick Shared Studios purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
The creative industries have been identified as a significant opportunity for wealth and job creation. Creative businesses have unique needs. Most work better together in open, well designed creative spaces, alongside like-minded people where they can collaborate, share ideas, information and resources.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
Blick Shared Studios was formed in 2007 by a group of young creatives who wanted to come together to create a great workspace for creatives in Belfast. The vision for the organisation was to create beautiful but a�ordable spaces for creatives to work in. Spaces for like-minded creatives to meet and share resources, ideas and inspiration. Spaces to build a sense of community and encourage, support and inspire each other.
● Our first studio in 2007 was a rented warehouse in the City Centre
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Blick Shared Studios has been trading since January 2008 with our first dedicated long term studio space at 51 Malone Road
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In July 2012 Blick Shared Studios opened its second premises in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter
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In 2015 Blick Shared Studios opened its third premises also in the Cathedral Quarter.
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Under a 3 year contract with The Northern Ireland Executive O�ce starting in 2015 Blick Shared Studios set up and developed the state of the art creative hub in the former Ebrington Barracks in Derry~Londonderry
Currently Blick Shared Studios provides fully serviced shared workspace and private studio space to more than 65 creatives across 3 di�erent locations within Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Blick Shared Studios also provides virtual o�ce services, meeting and event spaces, provides mentoring support, online advice and resources and runs di�erent events, workshops and projects to successfully work within the creative industries and to help support creatives to start and grow creative businesses in Northern Ireland.
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OUR PURPOSES
1. WORKSPACE, STUDIO AND INCUBATION UNITS FOR CREATIVES
The creation of training and employment opportunities by the provision of workspace, studio or incubation units for use by artists, craftspersons and creative industry businesses on favourable terms.
2. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BUSINESS ADVICE FOR CREATIVES
The provision of technical assistance or business advice or consultancy to artists, craftspersons and creative industry businesses in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people in cases of financial or other charitable need through help: (i) in setting up their own business, or (ii) to existing businesses.
3. PERMANENT GALLERY AND MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE
The provision of a permanent gallery and multi-purpose space for the public to learn about the arts, crafts and creative industries. For artists, craftspersons and creative industry businesses to showcase their work to the public, meet with clients and hold events. For Blick Shared Studios to host events and activities which develop individual competencies and skills within the creative industries.
4. INFORMATION AND SUPPORT NETWORK
The provision of an information and support network for emerging artists, craftspersons and creative industry businesses.
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OUR AIMS
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To provide working spaces for creatives outside the home to encourage productivity, creativity, connection and better work/life balance.
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To provide a�ordable workspace for creatives in beautiful buildings with character in Belfast.
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To o�er fully serviced workspace without commitment that takes the hassle and risk out of renting premises and allows our resident creatives to concentrate on their creative practices.
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To bring together creatives to encourage community, connection, collaboration and peer learning within our workspace and events and activities.
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To provide meaningful support for creatives in Belfast to inspire and support them to follow their dreams, gain inspiration and motivation and meet and connect with other like-minded creatives.
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To remain a financially sustainable and independent organisation, able to provide long-term support and facilities and adapt quickly and flexibly to the needs of creatives.
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OUR BENEFICIARIES
Blick Shared Studios exists to support creatives (artists, craftspersons and individuals working within the creative industries) to successfully work within the creative industries and to start and grow creative businesses in Northern Ireland.
Our goal is to inspire and encourage people to work within the creative industries and to start their own creative businesses in Northern Ireland. We aim to give our beneficiaries the support, tools, resources and facilities they need to make this possible.
We aim to have a multi-disciplinary community of creative professionals from across a broad range of creative disciplines based within our studios and benefiting from our di�erent charitable activities and projects.
Beneficiaries of our charity are primarily people living in Belfast, Northern Ireland and are made up of the following groups.
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Creatives who are members of our studios - who benefit directly from our workspace and its facilities, community and support o�ered
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Creative graduates who are participants on our graduate residency program - who benefit directly from the provision of free workspace and our studios facilities, community and the bespoke business support o�ered
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Members of the broader Northern Ireland creative community who are not
members of our studios - who benefit by participating in our programs and
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activities, attending our events or benefit from our online resources and support for creatives.
- Members of the public adults and children - who benefit from attending our events, exhibitions and workshops, participating in our projects and from the wider economic and social benefits our activities provide.
ORGANISATION RECOGNITION
Blick Shared Studios’ reputation as a creative industries hub leader was maintained in this period. With Christine James, CEO of Blick Shared Studios, being a member of the European Creative Hubs Network and receiving an invitation to attend the Bautopia Culture & Creativity Conference in Porto in October 2022 and Vietnam with the British Council in January 2023. Christine was also interviewed for the No Space for Design Podcast in July 2022.
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OUR PURPOSES, ACTIVITIES AND THEIR BENEFICIARIES
Here is a summary of Blick Shared Studios’ outputs, achievements, projects and activities and their beneficiaries for this period 1[ST] March 2022 – 28[th] February 2023.
PURPOSE: WORKSPACE, STUDIO AND INCUBATION UNITS FOR CREATIVES
ACTIVITY
Blick Shared Studios provides niche a�ordable space for creative individuals and small businesses with unique needs and desires, on flexible terms who are unsuitable for privately renting commercial property. Blick Shared Studios has 3 premises providing workspace for the creative industries in Belfast.
- 51 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RY
- 46 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2 LB
- Unit 7, Cotton Court, 30-42 Waring Street, Belfast, BT1 2ED
During this period within these 3 premises we have provided an estimated 68 creative individuals and small businesses with specialist creative industry workspace in dedicated desks within shared workspaces and private studio spaces and free incubation workspace to 2 creative industry graduates to support them with starting their own creative business. In
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addition to physical workspace nearly 100 small businesses have benefited from our virtual o�ce services which provide creative businesses with a professional commercial business address.
BENEFICIARIES:
CREATIVE STUDIO MEMBERS - the creatives, artists, craftspersons and individuals working within the creative industries who are members of our studios.
HOW THEY BENEFIT
Community - working alongside and getting to know like-minded creatives for well-being, support, connection and to reduce isolation and loneliness amongst creatives who might otherwise work alone at home.
Collaboration - the opportunity to meet and work collaboratively with other like-minded creatives who are studio members.
Networking Opportunities - the opportunity to build a professional network for increased sales and business and creative development.
Creativity and Inspiration - increased creativity and inspiration from working in a creative environment alongside other like-minded creatives.
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Productivity - increased productivity from improved facilities, better connectivity and working in a professional environment without distractions. Fully serviced, all inclusive studio membership saves time and energy.
Work/Life Balance - better work/life balance and wellbeing benefits from having a separation between home and work.
Business Advice and Support - peer-learning opportunities and support from other members and the opportunity to attend events and workshops in the studios.
Promotional and Showcasing Opportunities - opportunities to promote themselves and their creative practices through exhibiting work physically and online, speaking and facilitation opportunities.
A�ordability - a�ordable membership helps creatives to reduce outgoings and makes their creative practice more a�ordable.
- Flexibility flexible membership takes the risk out of starting a creative practice or business
Improved Facilities and Connectivity - improves productivity and creativity
Professional Image - use of a commercial address within central locations provides a professional, trusted image which will encourage sales and business and artistic growth.
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Studio Locations - being located in safe, vibrant, central, politically neutral locations close to the creative talent of Ulster and Queen's University encourages creativity, inspiration and provides opportunity for collaboration and business and artistic growth.
SUMMARY
The benefit of providing space on favourable terms is the creation of job opportunities for people starting their own and working within existing businesses in the creative industries. It makes starting a business more a�ordable, simpler and less stressful. Serviced space and flexible leases are easier to manage and increase productivity and focus. The use of shared facilities means businesses can access better and more professional facilities than if they were renting on their own. They also get to meet new people, who can help them and support them in growing their business. This reduces loneliness, isolation, stress and anxiety. Space is rented solely to people working within the creative industries, this nurtures talent, creativity and innovation. These factors help people start and grow and work within creative industry businesses and create more job opportunities. Demand for the workspaces remains constant and we frequently operate a waiting list policy.
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GRADUATE RESIDENTS - the graduate residents benefit from free access to incubation workspace
HOW THEY BENEFIT
Business Advice and Support - graduate residents benefit from the peer-learning opportunities and support from other members and the opportunity to attend events and workshops in the studios that comes with their free incubation workspace membership.
Community - free incubation workspace membership gives our graduate residents the opportunity to work alongside and get to know like-minded creatives. Providing them with the benefits of better well-being, through more support and connections and reduced isolation and loneliness.
Collaboration - free incubation workspace membership gives our graduate residents the opportunity to meet and work collaboratively with other like-minded creatives who are studio members.
Networking Opportunities - free incubation workspace membership gives our graduate residents the opportunity to build a professional network for increased sales and business and creative development.
Creativity and Inspiration - free incubation workspace membership gives our graduate residents increased creativity and inspiration from working in a creative environment alongside other like-minded creatives.
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Productivity - free incubation workspace membership gives our graduate residents increased productivity from improved facilities, better connectivity and working in a professional environment without distractions.
Work/Life Balance - free incubation workspace membership gives our graduate residents better work/life balance and wellbeing benefits from having a separation between home and work.
Promotional and Showcasing Opportunities - through the graduate residency program our graduate residents benefit from opportunities to promote themselves and their creative practices through exhibiting work physically and online, speaking and facilitation opportunities.
Improved Facilities and Connectivity - free incubation workspace membership gives our graduate residents better facilities and connectivity than if they were working from home. This improves their productivity and creativity.
Professional Image - free incubation workspace membership gives our graduate residents use of a commercial address within central locations and provides a professional, trusted image which will encourage sales and business and artistic growth.
Studio Locations - free incubation workspace membership in safe, vibrant, central, politically neutral locations close to the creative talent of Ulster and Queen's University encourages creativity, inspiration and provides opportunity for collaboration and business and artistic growth.
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SUMMARY
All of these benefits help the graduate residents to be more likely to succeed with their creative business ideas by improving their business and technical skills and knowledge, inspiring and supporting them. Giving them access to community, networks, facilities and opportunities, improving their wellbeing, working conditions and in turn their creativity and productivity
PUBLIC - the general public and local communities
HOW THEY BENEFIT
Job Creation and Talent Retention - through increased job opportunities within our members' creative businesses
Economic Growth - through spending in local businesses and organisations
Animating the city - through our members activities in the locations of our studios
Promoting the city - promoting Belfast and Northern Ireland positively locally and globally as a thriving, successful creative city
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SUMMARY
The general public and local communities benefit from the opportunities for job creation, talent retention, wealth creation and economic growth through the provision of creative workspace that supports creative businesses to start and grow in Belfast. They also benefit from local spending, footfall and activity in the areas the studios are located and from the positive image the success of the creative industries and the studios showcase to both local and global audiences.
PURPOSE: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BUSINESS ADVICE FOR CREATIVES
ACTIVITIES
Blick has supported creatives through free creative industry networking and business advice events and activities including:
Monthly Womenfolk Peer Mentoring Meetups - providing peer learning opportunities as well as technical assistance and business advice with Blick founder and CEO Christine James. Starting in January 2023 on the last Tuesday of each month we hosted a get together with a small group of self-employed creative women or women in the process of starting a creative business to chat about business and life. Each person will get the chance to speak. Sharing their monthly progress, plans for the following month, future goals and aspirations as well as any challenges they may be facing. This process gives participants the
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opportunity to connect with and learn from like-minded creative women and helps with motivation, accountability, goal setting and planning.
Graduate Residency Program Monthly Mentoring Sessions - o�ering technical advice and business support to our 2 graduate residents.
Weekly Creative Roundup Blogs and Social Media Posts - highlighting upcoming funding advice, support and opportunities to help local creatives start and grow their creative businesses.
Specialist Business Blogs - o�ering business advice
Meet The Resident Interviews - published on our website and social media o�ering peer learning opportunities for local creatives to gain assistance and advice from our resident creatives.
BENEFICIARIES:
CREATIVES WHO ARE STUDIO MEMBERS - the creatives, artists, craftspersons and individuals working within the creative industries who are members of our studios.
HOW THEY BENEFIT
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Peer-learning opportunities - our studio members benefit from peer-learning opportunities from other studio members.
Studio events and workshops - our studio members get the opportunity to attend events and workshops in the studios that o�er technical assistance and business advice.
Online content - our studio members benefit from online content and resources including blogs, podcasts and videos we publish that o�er technical assistance and business advice.
SUMMARY
Our studio members benefit from organic peer-learning opportunities with other studio members and from attendance at studio events and workshops and online content that o�er technical assistance and business advice.
GRADUATE RESIDENTS - the creative graduates on our graduate residency program.
HOW THEY BENEFIT
One-on-one mentoring support - graduate residents benefit from ongoing on-on-one free business mentoring advice and support.
Monthly business exercises and resources - graduate residents receive monthly business exercises and resources to improve their business and technical skills.
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Peer-learning opportunities - graduate residents benefit from peer-learning opportunities from other members
Studio events and workshops - graduate residents get the opportunity to attend events and workshops in the studios that o�er technical assistance and business advice.
Online content - our graduate residents benefit from online content and resources including blogs, podcasts and videos we publish that o�er technical assistance and business advice.
SUMMARY
Our graduate residents benefit from bespoke one-on-one technical assistance and business advice on a regular basis throughout the program through the mentoring support, exercises and resources. They also benefit from organic peer-learning opportunities with other studio members and from attendance at studio events and workshops that o�er technical assistance and business advice.
NI CREATIVE COMMUNITY - the creatives, artists, craftspersons and individuals working within the creative industries who are members of the broader creative community in Northern Ireland.
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HOW THEY BENEFIT
Studio events and workshops - the creative community gets the opportunity to attend events and workshops in the studios that o�er technical assistance and business advice.
Online content - the creative community benefits from online content and resources including blogs, podcasts and videos we publish that o�er technical assistance and business advice.
Peer-learning opportunities - the creative community benefits from peer-learning opportunities from other creatives at our events and workshops.
SUMMARY
The creative community benefits from attendance at events and workshops we organise and through content we produce and publish that o�ers technical assistance and business advice as well as through peer-learning opportunities with other event and workshop attendees.
PURPOSE: PERMANENT GALLERY AND MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE
ACTIVITIES
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The permanent gallery and multi-purpose space benefits the public through a higher level of education, understanding and knowledge of the arts, crafts and creative industries. The gallery allows people to showcase their work to the public. Provision of a multi-purpose space provides a professional space that creative businesses can use to grow their business by meeting clients and holding events, the space can also be used for events which develop individual competencies and skills within the creative industries. The creative industries is a growing sector of the Northern Ireland economy; improving knowledge of the creative industries leads to increased employment opportunities.
Our gallery and multi-purpose space has been used during this period for a variety of activities including:
MEMBERS EVENTS & MEETINGS
Our multi-purpose spaces are used on a daily basis by members for hosting events, meeting with clients, team meetings, brainstorming, rehearsals, auditions, film-making etc.
NETWORKING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES EVENTS AND PROJECTS
Our multi-purpose spaces are used on a regular basis for hosting networking, business development & creative industry events including:
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Monthly Womenfolk meetups & events for female creatives
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Monthly mentoring meetings for our Graduate Residency Programme
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Filming and production for Our Time is Now Video Podcast series in January and February 2023
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Regular members co�ee mornings
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Regular Belfast Design Week team development meetings
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Free studio space for a local artist Hannah Gri�n to paint a large Elmer elephant sculpture as part of a national campaign called Elmer’s Big Trail
EXHIBITIONS
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Rosie McGurran solo exhibition in partnership with Blick Shared Studios resident Gallery 545 in March 2022
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Residents Exhibition. An exhibition of current Blick Shared Studios resident creatives work in September 2022
RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS
We spent a significant amount of time and financial resources during this period renovating, repairing and upgrading the gallery and multi-purpose space in our Malone studios for future projects.
BENEFICIARIES:
CREATIVE STUDIO MEMBERS - the creatives, artists, craftspersons and individuals working within the creative industries who are members of our studios.
HOW THEY BENEFIT
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Community - the communal multi-purpose spaces provide breakout spaces for our members. Providing them with space to connect with and get to know other studio members. Increasing their well-being, support, connections and reducing isolation and loneliness.
Collaboration - the communal multi-purpose spaces provide breakout spaces for our members. Providing them with space to meet and work collaboratively with other like-minded creatives who are studio members.
Networking Opportunities - the communal multi-purpose spaces provide breakout spaces for our members. Providing them with the opportunity to build a professional network for increased sales and business and creative development.
Access to Exhibitions, Workshops and Events - leads to increased creativity and inspiration from working in a creative environment with di�erent exhibitions and events and to improved skills and increased business growth through the knowledge acquired at the di�erent events, workshops and activities hosted in the space. As well as through more organic peer-learning opportunities and support from other members within the communal multi-purpose spaces.
Promotional and Showcasing Opportunities - opportunities to promote themselves and their creative practices through exhibiting work physically within the exhibition space or speaking at or facilitating an event.
A�ordability - a�ordable hire rates gives creative access to facilities they couldn't otherwise a�ord, leading to new opportunities and business and artistic growth.
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Professional Image - use of a dedicated meeting space for members to meet with clients and showcase their work provides a professional, trusted image which will encourage sales and business and artistic growth.
SUMMARY
All of these benefits help our creative studio members to feel better connected, nurtured and supported, be more inspired and creative and to improve their skills and knowledge and the professional image of their creative practice. This leads to new opportunities and in turn leads to increased revenue, better working conditions, improved work/life balance and wellbeing.
GRADUATE RESIDENTS - the graduate residents benefit from free access to incubation workspace and use of our meeting rooms and multi-purpose spaces
HOW THEY BENEFIT
Community - the communal multi-purpose spaces provide breakout spaces for our members and our graduate residents. Providing them with space to connect with and get to know other studio members. Increasing their well-being, support, connections and reducing isolation and loneliness.
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Collaboration - the communal multi-purpose spaces provide breakout spaces for our members and our graduate residents. Providing them with space to meet and work collaboratively with other like-minded creatives who are studio members.
Networking Opportunities - the communal multi-purpose spaces provide breakout spaces for our members and our graduate residents. Providing them with the opportunity to build a professional network for increased sales and business and creative development.
Access to Exhibitions, Workshops and Events - leads to increased creativity and inspiration from working in a creative environment with di�erent exhibitions and events and to improved skills and increased business growth through the knowledge acquired at the di�erent events, workshops and activities hosted in the space. As well as through more organic peer-learning opportunities and support from other members within the communal multi-purpose spaces.
Promotional and Showcasing Opportunities - opportunities to promote themselves and their creative practices through exhibiting work physically within the exhibition space or speaking at or facilitating an event.
Professional Image - use of a dedicated meeting space gives our graduate residents the opportunity to meet with clients and showcase their work and provides a professional, trusted image which will encourage sales and business and artistic growth.
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SUMMARY
All of these benefits help our graduate residents to successfully start their creative businesses, giving them better facilities and a more professional image as well as helping them to feel better connected, nurtured and supported, be more inspired and creative and to improve their skills and knowledge.
PUBLIC - the general public adults and children and local communities benefit from access to exhibition, events, workshops and activities
HOW THEY BENEFIT
Knowledge on the arts and creative industries in Northern Ireland - attending exhibitions, events and workshops educated the public on the arts and creative industries in Northern Ireland
Improves skills - access to workshops and training improves skills for the public
Economic Growth - through spending in local businesses and organisations by attendees of exhibitions, events and workshops
Animating the local area - through people visiting the studios for exhibitions, events and workshops
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Promoting the city - promoting Belfast and Northern Ireland positively locally and globally as a thriving, successful creative city
SUMMARY
The general public and local communities benefit from the opportunities to learn about the arts and creative industries in Northern Ireland. They also benefit from local spending, footfall and activity in the areas the studios are located and from the positive image the success of the creative industries and the studios showcase to both local and global audiences.
PURPOSE: INFORMATION AND SUPPORT NETWORK
ACTIVITIES
Blick Shared Studios has invested over 7 hours per week building an online information and support network for the creative industries and the audiences of Blick Shared Studios including the following content:
Weekly creative roundup blogs and social media posts - highlighting upcoming funding advice, support and opportunities to help local creatives start and grow their creative businesses.
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Specialist blogs - o�ering technical and business advice and information
Meet the resident interviews - o�ering peer learning opportunities for local creatives to gain assistance and advice from our resident creatives.
Blick Shared Studios has also secured funding during this period and has filmed and recorded a new series of video podcasts called Our Time is Now which will share the stories of 5 local creatives living and thriving in Belfast which was released in March 2023.
BENEFICIARIES:
CREATIVES WHO ARE STUDIO MEMBERS - the creatives, artists, craftspersons and individuals working within the creative industries who are members of our studios.
HOW THEY BENEFIT
Promotional and showcasing opportunities - our studio members benefit from promotional and showcasing opportunities through our network.
Online content - our studio members benefit from online content and resources including blogs, podcasts and videos we publish that o�er information and support.
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SUMMARY
Our studio members benefit from the opportunity to promote and showcase their creative work and build their networks, as well as to gain knowledge and inspiration through our information and support network.
GRADUATE RESIDENTS - the creative graduates on our graduate residency program.
HOW THEY BENEFIT
Promotional and showcasing opportunities - our graduate residents benefit from promotional and showcasing opportunities through our network.
Online content - our graduate residents benefit from online content and resources including blogs, podcasts and videos we publish that o�er information and support.
SUMMARY
Our graduate residents benefit from the opportunity to promote and showcase their creative work and build their networks, as well as to gain knowledge and inspiration through our information and support network.
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NI CREATIVE COMMUNITY - the creatives, artists, craftspersons and individuals working within the creative industries who are members of the broader creative community in Northern Ireland.
HOW THEY BENEFIT
Promotional and showcasing opportunities - the creative community we profile or interview benefits from promotional and showcasing opportunities through our network.
Online content - the creative community benefits from online content and resources including blogs, podcasts and videos we publish that o�er information and support.
SUMMARY
The creative community benefits from the opportunity to promote and showcase their creative work and build their networks, as well as to gain knowledge and inspiration through our information and support network.
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PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
Projects and activities for this period included the following:
Blick Graduate Residency Program - the provision of free workspace, business mentoring and support for 2 creative industry graduates.
Womenfolk Peer Mentoring - throughout this period Blick Shared Studios organised and hosted monthly meetups for creative industry women business owners for peer learning, support, inspiration, networking and community building
Our Time Is Now - At the start of 2023 we secured funding for and produced and filmed Our Time is Now A video podcast series sharing the stories of local Belfast based creatives. Exploring how they have built their businesses, overcome challenges and navigated the shifts and changes throughout their business journey. Our Time is Now was released in March 2023.
Blick Creative Roundup - throughout this period Blick Shared Studios produced weekly online information resources for local creatives on our blog and social media highlighting upcoming funding, support and opportunities to help them start and grow their creative business.
European Creative Hubs Network - Blick Shared Studios was a member of the European Creative Hubs Network and attended the Bautopia Culture & Creativity Conference in Porto
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in October 2022 to learn best practice expertise and knowledge from other creative hubs from throughout Europe.
Belfast Design Week Research Trip to Vietnam - 2023 got o�to an exciting start with a research trip to Hanoi Vietnam for Belfast Design Week. In 2015 we co-founded Belfast Design Week and for the next 5 years it was one of our key social impact projects supporting creatives in Belfast. Over the 5 years it grew to have over 10,000 attendees and 90 di�erent events across a variety of design disciplines. One of the key aims for Design Week was to put Belfast on the map as a global design city, to do this we need to make more international connections. When the opportunity arose to seek funding from the British Council to do a scoping trip to Hanoi in Vietnam with the view of building partnerships and connections we jumped at it.
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
GOVERNING DOCUMENT
Blick Shared Studios is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 12 December 2006, it was last updated on 15 October 2014. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. A copy of the Memorandum of Association is available upon request.
APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
As set out in the Memorandum of Association new trustees shall be appointed or elected at the Annual General Meeting by members present. The trustees also have the power to appoint new trustees at any time.
ORGANISATION
The board of trustees, which must have a minimum of 3, administers the charity. The board normally meets quarterly and there is a finance sub-committee which will meet monthly. Content of meetings includes: Financial performance, our programme of events, projects, future strategy and ongoing operational issues.
REMUNERATION & RELATED PARTIES
None of our trustees receive remuneration or other benefit from their work with the charity. Any connection between a trustee or senior manager of the charity and any contractual
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relationship with a related party must be disclosed to the board of trustees. In this year payment of £18,000 for rental of the property at 51 Malone Road to Trustee John Haran’s company Tyrone House was disclosed.
The terms and conditions and wages of the employees is set by the trustees.
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS OF THE CHARITY
Christine James is the Chief Executive O�cer and oversees the management of Blick Studios. Bookkeeping, administrative and marketing support is provided by part time sta� and freelance contractors.
BANK
HSBC
25-29 Royal Avenue
Belfast
BT1 1FB
ACCOUNTANTS
KPS Chartered Accountants
50A Main Street
Newcastle
Co. Down
BT33 0AD
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– FINANCIAL REVIEW 1 MARCH 2022 28 FEBRUARY 2023
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
Financial performance in the period 1st March 2022 - 28th February 2023 continued to improve post pandemic with recovery of charitable activity to pre-pandemic levels. There was a surplus of income over expenditure of £7445 compared to £10081 for the period ending 28th February 2022.
INCOME
The income from charitable activity for the year ending 28th February 2023 continued to improve in the post pandemic period returning to levels similar to pre-pandemic, total income for the period was £143,493 with £141,146 coming from charitable activities and £2347 from grants. For the year ended 28th February 2022 the breakdown was activity £122,900 and grant income £28,403.
EXPENDITURE
Total expenditure for the period ending 28th February 2023 was slightly reduced compared to the prior year (£136,048 compared to £141,222) the main di�erence accounted for by higher project specific expenditures on the Womenfolk Dig Deep Grant in the year ending 2022. Energy and other costs remain high.
FUNDS MATERIALLY IN DEFICIT
As at 28 February 2023 Blick Shared Studios had no funds in material deficit.
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IDENTIFIED RISKS
We have identified a couple of main areas of risk for Blick Shared Studios for future consideration. The first issue surrounds the issue of subletting the space. As we rent the properties we may in the future be subject to rent increases which would be unsustainable for the organisation and which we have no control over. High energy costs and general inflation also have an impact on our financial position.
RESERVES POLICY
In order to maintain the organisation in the case of an unexpected event it has been agreed that Blick Shared Studios will retain at least 6 months of operational costs (sta�costs, rent, rates, heat, light etc) which would be approximately £60,000. The organisation should also hold £5000 for unexpected repairs or replacement costs for capital assets. The level of reserves is to be reviewed on an annual basis.
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TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The charity trustees (who are also the directors of the Blick Shared Studios for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of a�airs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also
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responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may di�er from legislation in other jurisdictions.
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