2025 Festival Dates: 5 & 6 July

Art in Manufacturing Podcasts

Art in Manufacturing has teamed up with Arrest All Mimics to produce a series of podcasts exploring the stories behind the 2018 commissions and investigating the heritage of the factories and workforces.

Nicola Ellis & Ritherdon

The first podcast travels to Darwen’s Ritherdon, where artist and sculpture-maker Nicola Ellis is collaborating with the staff, inspired by the rich heritage and responding to the workplace environment to create a bespoke artwork in a company with a truly unique history approaching 125 years…

Martyn Ware and Illustrious Company

In the second of the of our specially commissioned podcasts we’re waking the ghosts of Tony’s Empress Ballroom, home of the Northern Soul all nighter for the wonderful ‘Church of Rare Souls’ soundscape.

 

Dawinder Bansal’s Making of a South Asian Wedding

The third and final episode in the collaboration with the National Festival of Making.

Travelling through cultural traditions, time and generations of family members, Dawinder Bansal collaborated with home-based artisans and the small businesses that ensured a 1980s wedding in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities went ahead with the unforgettable sensations that Bansal remembers from her youth.

Hear the full story as Ben Tallon heads to the festival t talk to Dawinder, Master Chef finalist Moonira Hinglotwala, the ladies from the Blackburn curry club.

A CO-COMMISSION BY THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF MAKING AND SUPER SLOW WAY, ART IN MANUFACTURING IS FUNDED BY HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND AND ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND AND MADE POSSIBLE BY MONEY RAISED BY NATIONAL LOTTERY PLAYERS.

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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.

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