Self-Care Workshops for Individual Artists
10th February, 2026
As part of the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery and the Baring Foundation, we will be running 2 x online sessions and 5 x in-person events in Derry/Londonderry this March.
After a successful run last year, our FREE Self-care Workshops are back.
The series will cover financial advice, emotional balance and resilience and creative therapy techniques. The sessions aim to offer you practical tools in an open and safe environment, leaving you feeling supported and inspired.
From our previous attendees:
'It was a really great day... [the facilitators were] very skilled at getting to the root of anxiety and personal inner concerns.'
'I was fortunate enough to attend several of the self-care workshops, I found all of them incredibly beneficial on various levels. The facilitators were welcoming, inspiring and passionate about their work. Without wanting to sound dramatic, I genuinely found them to be life changing. I am looking after myself much more as a result of the workshops. Fuelling my body with nutritious food and continuing to find ways to balance and calm my mind.'
You can book through the ACNI Box Office here - Buy tickets – Arts Council of Northern Ireland or individual event links below.
Personalised Financial Advice
Date: Thursday 5th and Friday 6th March 2026
Venue: ONLINE
1-2-1 online sessions for registered artists to talk through their art practice finances and the tailored financial resources put together by Rosy and Christine from Blick Studios. Registered artists will work with the team at Blick Studios in advance of the session to ensure the outcomes are personalised to meet the financial needs of each artist. All participants will receive personalised post-session goals and actions.
Number of places – 15
https://buytickets.at/artscoun...
Building Resilience - Food and Mood
Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
Venue: The Speakeasy, Millennium Forum, Newmarket Street, Derry/Londonderry
Duration: 2.5 hours
Start time 10am. Finish time 12.30pm.
Light refreshments on arrival
Explore the powerful connection between what you eat and how you feel. Designed specifically for creatives by Inspire Wellbeing, this course raises awareness of certain foods and explores the reason why they help to improve mood with an insight into the gut - brain connection.
Number of places - 15
https://buytickets.at/artscouncilofnorthernireland/2046802
Building Resilience - Resilience in Practice
Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
Venue: The Green Room, Millennium Forum, Newmarket Street, Derry/Londonderry
Duration: 3.5 hours
Start time 10am. Finish time 1.30pm.
Light refreshments on arrival
New Dawn Health and Wellbeing deliver a nurturing and energising workshop designed specifically for artists and creatives. It offers space to reconnect with your inner strengths, restore emotional balance, and deepen creative resilience — so you can sustain your art, your wellbeing and rediscover joy in your practice.
Number of places - 15
https://buytickets.at/artscouncilofnorthernireland/2046833
Striking the Balance in a Creative World
Date: Thursday 5th March 2026
Venue: The Speakeasy, Millennium Forum, Newmarket Street, Derry/Londonderry
Duration: 3 hours
Start time 1.30pm. Finish time 4.30pm.
Light refreshments on arrival
This session has been designed by Inspire Wellbeing for artists, creatives, and freelancers seeking practical tools to manage time, set boundaries, and maintain a healthy work-life balance while nurturing their creativity and through discussions, activities, and reflections.
Number of places - 15
https://buytickets.at/artscouncilofnorthernireland/2046750
Assertiveness in Action - Managing Rejection
Date: Monday 9th March 2026
Venue: The Speakeasy, Millennium Forum, Newmarket Street, Derry/Londonderry
Duration: 2 hours
Start time 10.30am. Finish time 12.30pm.
Light refreshments on arrival
Dr Annette Clancy, Assistant Professor, University College Dublin, invites creative practitioners to explore how to navigate the highs and lows of a professional career and learn how you can work with disappointment to build long-term resilience.
Number of places -15
https://buytickets.at/artscouncilofnorthernireland/2046819
Artists Manifesto
Date: Thursday 26th March 2026
Venue: The Green Room, The Playhouse, Artillery Street, Derry/Londonderry
Duration: Full Day
Start time 10.00am. Finish time 4.30pm.
Light refreshments on arrival and lunch provided
Patrick J O’Reilly, Artistic Director, Tinderbox Theatre Company an accredited creative therapist delivers a full day Holistic Arts Practice (HAP) school offering artist training in play, complemented by creative therapy techniques inviting participants to explore the meaning of the artist’s purpose and develop tools for better well-being and mental health
Morning • The Science of Play • The Creative Brain • Balance in body and mind (understanding stress responses) • Awareness meditation
Afternoon • Carl Jung and the Artist • Exploring the value of Purpose (creating a foundation to develop a solution-focused mindset) • The Artist Manifesto
Number of places – 10