2024 Festival Dates: 6 & 7 July

News

Basket Weaving Workshop with Cherry Chung
Tufting Workshop with Alena Ruth Donely
Future Makers Challenge – Live Brief 2024: Calling all students and tutors!
Opportunity: Creative Alliance Internship
Opportunity: Bookkeeper and Administrative Role
Pajaki Making Workshop with Karolina Merska
The Hobby Cave: Hetain Patel and Artangel invite the public to join the loudest presentation of our quiet pastimes.
Art in Manufacturing Open Call for Artist Residency with Standfast & Barracks. A Co-Commission with the National Festival of Making and British Textile Biennial.
Open Call For New Festival Commission: A Co-Commission with the Festival of Culture and National Festival of Making
Tell us about your hobby and join the loudest presentation of our quiet pastimes.
Small Biz Day 2023 – Our Maker Picks!
Days out in the North of England with us…for free!
The Art of ‘Manufacturing’ Strong Community Ties in Blackburn
Vote for us in the UK Festival Awards!
Art in Manufacturing Season 5 Artists Revealed
We’re Hiring! 4 New Opportunities To Join The National Festival Of Making Team
Open Call for Artist Residencies with Cardboard Box Company and SWS UK
National Festival of Making + Studio Critical: Spoon Carving Workshop
Open Call Opportunities for the National Festival of Making 2023
National Festival of Making + byUMBERTO: Sign Writing Workshop
Clayful: National Festival of Making + Hollie Cooper Pottery Workshop
Festival of Making Community Interest Company joins Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation
Assembly: Contemporary Sculpture Workshop with Maisie Pritchard
Chair of the Board of Directors: Jamie Holman
2022 Festival Dates Released!

2022 Festival Dates Released!

24th January 2022

Adorning with Clay: Ceramic Jewellery Workshop Series
The National Festival of Making are recruiting Event Hosts
Inspired and Inspirational – Four New Board Members Revealed On International Women’s Day
Creative & Cultural Skills – Live Brief
Apply to join our Board of Directors
Join artist Sarah Hardacre in an online collage workshop
Graduate Micro Commissions Revealed
The National Festival of Making work with partners to deliver activity boxes transforming to desks to Pennine Lancashire Children
Lancashire Emerging Artists: Open Call for Graduate Micro-Commissions
Blackburn Art School’s Degree Show Goes Digital
Building Big Ideas: Tim Denton joins Art In Manufacturing Season Four
Postponement of the National Festival of Making

Postponement of the National Festival of Making

18th March 2020

We have taken the difficult decision to postpone the National Festival of Making, due to take place on Sat 6 – Sun 7 June 2020, due to the developing situation

Hannah Leighton Boyce takes up residence at Darwen Terracotta for Art in Manufacturing
Art in Manufacturing Season Four – first commissioned artist revealed
Call for Expression of Interest – Art in Manufacturing Season Four

Call for Expression of Interest – Art in Manufacturing Season Four

2nd August 2019

The National Festival of Making and Super Slow Way are inviting Expressions of Interest from Artists for Season Three of Art in Manufacturing

Disrupting the everyday – reflections on Art in Manufacturing
INDUSTRIALISED:  Art in Manufacturing in the Gallery
Art In Manufacturing Q&A: Dan Edwards and The Senator Group
Get to know our Street Food Traders for 2019!
Art In Manufacturing Q&A: Amy Pennington and Heritage Envelopes
Art In Manufacturing Q&A: Anna Ray and Forbo
Art In Manufacturing Q&A: Liz Wilson and Spiroflow
Art In Manufacturing Q&A: Daksha Patel and Blackburn Yarn Dyers
Press Release: The Maker’s Market Returns for 2019

Press Release: The Maker’s Market Returns for 2019

26th April 2019

Our carefully curated market of food, fashion, arts and crafts returns for this year's festival.

Press Release: Art in Manufacturing Artists and Factories Revealed
National Festival of Making Receives Arts Council England Funding for both 2019 and 2020
Open Call. Industrialised; Art in Manufacturing in the Gallery

Open Call. Industrialised; Art in Manufacturing in the Gallery

4th February 2019

Artists Exhibition Open Call

STOP PRESS! Lancashire looks forward to the new June 2019 Festival of Making
Call Out for Expressions of Interest from Artists for Season Three of Art in Manufacturing
Festival of Making Gallery Now LIVE

Festival of Making Gallery Now LIVE

7th June 2018

Relive a magical weekend of making

Listen to Martyn Ware’s Church of Rare Souls Soundscape

Listen to Martyn Ware’s Church of Rare Souls Soundscape

17th May 2018

His exclusive piece for the National Festival of Making is now available to download

The First Pictures Are Here!

The First Pictures Are Here!

12th May 2018

And they're BEAUTIFUL

Podcast masterminds Arrest All Mimics meet Nicola Ellis

Podcast masterminds Arrest All Mimics meet Nicola Ellis

8th May 2018

The first in our specially commissioned podcasts!

GET READY TO MAKE!

GET READY TO MAKE!

4th May 2018

Download the full programme now!

MAKE PLANS for The National Festival of Making!

MAKE PLANS for The National Festival of Making!

30th April 2018

over 140 making activities announced for 2018!

Get High-Tech and Hands-On with STEAM

Get High-Tech and Hands-On with STEAM

21st April 2018

Dismantle a virtual jet engine, wrestle with robotics or get hands-on with cutting-edge technologies

Martyn Ware Seeks Memories of Tony’s Ballroom

Martyn Ware Seeks Memories of Tony’s Ballroom

12th April 2018

Dancing the night away - send us your memories, mementoes and music from Tony’s Empress Ballroom

Amazing Makers at the National Festival of Making

Amazing Makers at the National Festival of Making

12th April 2018

The best in lovingly-made street food, fashion, arts and crafts.

Lancashire Makers and Memories Wanted

Lancashire Makers and Memories Wanted

9th April 2018

for The Making of a South Asian Wedding

Performance at the National Festival of Making

Performance at the National Festival of Making

2nd April 2018

Vaiven Circo, The Urban Arts Experience and much more!

The National Festival of Making Returns

The National Festival of Making Returns

1st February 2018

Following an incredible 2017, the second edition of the National Festival of Making will return to Blackburn, Lancashire, on 12 and 13 May 2018.

(The National Festival of) Making a Difference in Blackburn

(The National Festival of) Making a Difference in Blackburn

19th January 2018

Blackburn town centre played host to the first National Festival of Making in 2017, but what impact did it have for the town?

Funders

Sponsors

2019 Trusts & Foundations

The National Festival Of Making Delivery Team

National Festival of Making is supported by the Arts Council England, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Brian Mercer Trust and Foundations and Partners. This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Back to top