The National Festival of Making

About

Festival of Making CIC is a not-for-profit arts and culture organisation based in Blackburn, Lancashire.

We connect people, place, art and industry through playful and inquisitive artistic commissions and collaborative projects culminating in a large-scale annual public festival and programme.

Our work creates opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in making. From pairing artists with manufacturers through our headline commissioning programme and develops projects in education and community settings.

At the heart of our approach is the belief that making is for everyone. Whether through hands‑on workshops, long‑term artist residencies, ambitious public commissions or partnerships with schools and colleges, we champion bold, accessible and caring ways of working that are rooted in collaboration.

We curate and produce the National Festival of Making, a free and participatory, town‑centre‑wide festival in Blackburn that brings together art, manufacturing, performance and making over one celebratory weekend each year.

The National Festival of Making attracts over 40,000 visitors annually and features more than 150 artists and makers across 25+ venues. The programme includes workshops, public realm installations, exhibitions and performances, as well as a Friday industry conference for professionals in arts, design, architecture, placemaking and manufacturing, shining a light on Lancashire as a centre of UK manufacturing and innovation.

The festival activates Blackburn’s high street and public spaces, creating meaningful collaborations between local industry, communities and the public sector, and positioning the town on a national cultural platform.

Find out more on the National Festival of Making website here.

“For those curious about what happens when artists roll up their sleeves and step into the engine rooms of British industry, it’s not one to miss.”

Creative Boom

“I was really struck by the cooperation and partnership demonstrated. The charisma of key individuals was matched by the commitment, passion and energy of so many amazing project leads and facilitators – all working together without a sense of hierarchy… The sense of pride in Blackburn’s making heritage and future potential could be felt in everything. It genuinely feels like a place where magic is happening.”

Nicky Dewar, Learning & Skills Director, Crafts Council UK

Art in Manufacturing is supported by

Back to top