Festival

Workshops are really important to us, they make up a large proportion of the festival programme. We work closely with some of the most skilled, exciting and contemporary artists and makers locally and nationally to create a varied, artist-led workshop programme for audiences to enjoy.

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Each year sees the remarkable outcomes of our headline commissioning programme, Art in Manufacturing, which pairs artists with some of the UK’s leading manufacturers. To date, over 40 artists have created exceptional artworks in collaboration with manufacturing workforces. Alongside this, installations designed to inspire and delight emerge for the weekend.

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Our performance programme celebrates making music, making noise and the joyful act of experiencing a live event together. Bringing together a diverse collection of artists and acts, we fill the streets of Blackburn with street theatre, music and dance from touring work to regional performers. Local community bands are a highlight feature, and are always guaranteed to bring a crowd.

Our talks programme is developed in collaboration with Creative Lancashire and begins on the Friday of festival week with a selection of industry-led panel talks. Throughout the festival weekend, informal artist talks take place within exhibition spaces, and pop-up panels often feature across the programme.

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Across the Festival weekend, you’ll find opportunities to browse a selection of handmade, custom and unique products; from our Makers Market curated by Hopeful & Glorious to the Taste Lancashire Market in partnership with Marketing Lancashire. We also work with Not Only A CIC, who developed street party-style marketplaces featuring emerging makers.