As the Festival is fast approaching, we wanted to put together some handy tips on how to make the most of your Festival workshop experience. Read on to understand more about accessing workshops, our new Know Before You Go options, and general useful information.

Workshops

We have three main ways to access workshops at the Festival: ‘Drop-in’, ‘Sign-up on the day’ and ‘Book in advance’. Remember, most of the content across the Festival is on a ‘just turn up’ basis so don’t worry if you get nothing booked before you come, there’s literally loads to do!

Drop-in 

These workshops are all free – just turn up and if there’s a spare chair, sit-down and get stuck in! If there isn’t a spare chair yet, it should only be a short wait before one becomes available.

Sign-up on the day

These are also free, but require you to head to the venue listed in the programme and sign-up for a time slot.This allows artists to control materials and numbers, but means you don’t need to book in advance before you arrive. Numbers are limited here, so it’s best to get to the venue earlier in the day to avoid disappointment. Unfortunately this does mean that all the spaces might be full up once we reach capacity for the day.

Book in advance

These tickets are available on Eventbrite from the 16th June – some workshops have a charge to cover material costs, but workshops are always subsidised thanks to the funding we receive, to reduce the cost where we can. By the time the festival arrives, the tickets have usually sold out, so put the 16th of June in your diary, turn on post notifications or sign up for our newsletter!

Know Before You Go

This year, we’re introducing ‘Know Before You Go’ versions of some Festival workshops and installations. 

‘Know Before You Go’ will offer the opportunity to pre-book a selection of activities that are otherwise ‘sign-up on the day’ or ‘drop-in’. Ahead of booking, you will be provided with additional information such as an explanation of what to expect, steps to the workshop activity and a description of the environment.

This new approach is designed to help you feel informed, supported and welcome before you start the experience, and allow you to book to guarantee your space. 

Whilst we can’t always control the environment, reduce crowd sizes or noise, we’ve identified certain areas of the Festival where, for a specific portion of the day, you can book in advance with clearer information of what to expect in an Eventbrite listing.

For 2025, these will include:

Saturday

Zine Making with Fiona Quadri – workshop

Simple Sauerkraut with Anjee – workshop

Introduction to Chip Carving with Graeme Brown – workshop

Abstract Arabic Calligraphy with Hafifa Ahmed – workshop

Mini flower bouquets with Sarah McCaig – workshop

Thingamabobas – interactive installation ideal for families

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Sunday

Zine Making with Fiona Quadri – workshop

Plasticine Companions with Sam Selley – workshop

Memory Making Mealtime Placemats with Kim Chin – workshop

Henna Coasters with Samina – workshop

Still Life Drawing with Java Bere – workshop

Thingamabobas – interactive installation ideal for families

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For the rest of the weekend, these programme items will run on a ‘drop-in’ or ‘sign-up on the day’ basis, Tickets for these sessions and all bookable content go live on Eventbrite on 16th June, sign up to our newsletter or turn on post notifications to stay in the loop! Tickets will be limited so try to book early to avoid disappointment.

If you’d prefer to just turn up over the weekend, we have plenty of things to do, exhibitions to see, and performances to watch with friendly information-point helpers to offer advice or point you in the right direction. We will also have a designated quiet room at Blackburn Central Library if you ever need a moment away from the Festival.

If you want to chat to one of our team, drop us an email info@festivalofmaking.co.uk or message us on social media. Please try to do this at least a week before the Festival if you can, so that we have time to respond during the busy festival build time.

General Information

Age Guidance

This year, we’ve changed the format of our ‘What’s On Guide’ to make it easier to understand what workshops are ideal for children, teens and adults. However, just because a workshop is listed as ideal ‘for children and families’, does not mean it could also be fab for an adult. There is no upper age limit on anything other than Early Years content which is aimed at Under 5s, so if you want to give something a go, please do!

If there is an age restriction, this is usually for safety reasons due to the tools involved – an age such as ‘8+’ will be listed in the programme and be on printed signs by the workshop. If you’re ever unsure, just ask the artist.

‘I’m on lunch’

If you pop by a workshop and there’s a sign saying ‘I’m on lunch’, artists are taking a quick break to rest and refuel. They’ll be back soon, and there should always be something else to do very close by.

Have Questions?

If you have any questions or there are ways that we might be able to support you in accessing a festival workshop, please drop us an email info@festivalofmaking.co.uk or message us on social media. Please try to do this at least a week before the Festival if you can, so that we have time to respond during the busy festival build time.