A Movement Where Creativity Belongs to Everyone
ART IS A TRADE fosters community through art, workshops, and encouraging hands-on creativity
Upcoming Events Terracotta Gargoyles — A Clay Workshop with a difference
Terracotta Gargoyles — A Clay Workshop with a Difference
Part of EastSide Arts Festival 2026
This workshop is all about slowing down for a couple of hours, getting your hands into clay, and giving your head a bit of space. Clay is grounding — the simple act of shaping and building helps you switch off from the rush and settle your thoughts.
As part of this year’s EastSide Arts Festival, I’m running a relaxed, two‑hour clay session where you’ll make your own terracotta gargoyle. It might be a creature, a character, a face, or something completely unexpected. There’s no pressure, no perfection — just making, chatting, and enjoying the moment.
Although this workshop was originally developed with men’s wellbeing in mind, everyone is welcome.
A note on men’s participation
It’s genuinely hard to get men involved in creative or wellbeing workshops. Many don’t feel comfortable signing up on their own, and often it’s partners, friends, or family who give them the wee nudge to try something new.
If you’re booking for someone you care about — or encouraging them to come along — you’re helping open a door that many men don’t walk through by themselves. A simple creative session can make a real difference.
What to expect
This is a low‑pressure couple of hours with good craic, easy conversation, and good music playing on the record player. Nothing formal. Nothing intense. Just a friendly space to make something, unwind, and enjoy the atmosphere.
All materials are provided, and each piece will be kiln‑fired and returned through EastSide Arts once ready.
Workshop Details
Date: Saturday 1 August 2026 Time: Doors open 10:30am Venue: Willowfield Parish Halls Ticket Price: £25 + £1 booking fee Age: Over 18s Booking: Advance booking only Accessibility: Fully accessible venue Parking: Onsite parking available Public Transport: Supported by Translink with great value ticket options
Why Gargoyles?
Gargoyles are expressive, playful forms — perfect for letting your imagination wander. They’re full of character and give you permission to experiment without worrying about getting anything “right”.
Working with clay is a simple way to reconnect with yourself. It slows your pace, steadies your thoughts, and gives you a moment of quiet creativity.
Book Your Place
Spaces are limited. Book through EastSide Arts: https://eastsidearts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873687598
ART IS A TRADE — It’s Happening
Date: Sunday 6th September 2026 Time: 12 noon – 4pm Venue: Banana Block, Portview Trade Centre, Newtownards Road, Belfast
ART IS A TRADE has officially been funded by the Belfast Bank of Ideas, with EastSide Arts as the supporting arts organisation.
This funding means we can deliver a free, drop‑in community event celebrating the makers, tradespeople, tinkerers, fixers, hobbyists, and creative households that keep Belfast’s working‑class creativity alive.
The day will bring together:
- handmade work from across Belfast
- custom bikes and cars
- ceramics, woodwork, metalwork
- drawing, painting, photography, tattoo flash
- upcycling, repairs, and everyday creativity from sheds, garages, and kitchens
- stories, conversations, and practical making
- the mental health and wellbeing side of creativity — sharing how making helps people stay grounded
A massive thank‑you to everyone who voted, both online and in person. Your support is the reason this event can happen. ART IS A TRADE is about pride, skill, and the people who build, fix, and create in the background of this city. With funding from the Bank of Ideas, we can now bring this to life properly.
What the Day Is About
ART IS A TRADE is a community‑focused event that celebrates making as a skill, a craft, and a livelihood. The ethos is simple:
Art is work. Craft is work. Creativity is labour.
The day is about showing the public what makers actually do — the hands‑on processes, the thinking, the graft, and the reasons behind it.
This isn’t a selling fair. It’s a networking and community event, designed to support connection, conversation, and visibility for local makers. You’re welcome to promote your workshops, classes, commissions, or future opportunities, but direct selling isn’t the main focus.
Creativity, Mental Health & Wellbeing
A big part of ART IS A TRADE is recognising how making supports mental health and wellbeing. Creativity gives people space to slow down, focus, breathe, and settle their thoughts. Many makers use their practice to manage stress, find balance, and stay grounded.
By bringing your work and talking about your process, you’re also showing how creativity helps people feel better — how working with your hands can calm the mind, build confidence, and create connection. This side of the event matters, and your presence helps make it real.
What We’re Asking You to Do
- Bring along some work — finished pieces or works‑in‑progress.
- Talk to visitors — share why you make, what drives your work, and what your craft means to you.
- Be part of the atmosphere — relaxed, informal, good craic, easy conversation, and music on the record player.
- Connect with other makers — meet artists, artisans, tradespeople, and creative households from across Belfast.
Budget & Artist Involvement
The event is funded by Bank of Ideas Belfast with a limited budget, and the aim is to bring in as many makers as possible.
As a thank‑you for your time, you’ll receive lunch and a dedicated space. This is a community event, focused on meeting other makers, sharing your process, and being part of the craic.
Practical Details
- Time: 12pm–4pm
- Set‑up: From early morning
- Space: A table will be provided for each maker
- Lunch: Provided
What to Bring
- A small selection of your work
- Any flyers, workshop info, or sign‑up sheets
- Tools or materials you want to show (optional)
- Anything that helps explain your craft or your story
The Ethos of ART IS A TRADE
ART IS A TRADE exists to highlight that creative work is skilled labour, not a hobby or an afterthought. It’s about valuing the people who make things — the craft, the process, the time, the mistakes, the learning, and the years it takes to get good at something.
The event encourages:
- Respect for craft
- Visibility for makers
- Community connection
- Honest conversation about why we create
- Recognition of creativity as support for wellbeing
It’s a space where people can see the reality of making: the hands, the tools, the repetition, the joy, the frustration, and the pride — and how creativity helps people feel connected, grounded, and well.
