A national celebration of making and manufacturing, from the kitchen table to the factory floor.
Big news! The National Festival of Making returns to Blackburn town centre on Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July for a family-friendly weekend packed with exhibitions, live performances, hands-on workshops, film screenings, makers markets, street food and lots more.
- Take part in one of our making workshops: from leatherworking to foil embossing, and risograph printing to heritage crafts, learn a new skill or practice an old one.
- Explore the connection between art and industry through a series of artistic commissions from Art in Manufacturing. Experience works by artists developed through groundbreaking collaborations with leading industry manufacturers and small scale spaces of making across Lancashire.
- Watch a selection of curated films, moving image projects and talks exploring all things making with an expanded festival film programme.
- Wind your way through our markets championing local and independent makers and producers.
You do not need a ticket to visit the Festival. Most of the activities are completely free, including all performances, exhibitions, film screenings and most workshops and talks. Some content requires a ticket (you can read more on that below), but there are loads of workshops, performances, and activities that are drop-in and free, so don’t worry if you don’t book anything in advance.
Some activities have age-guidance, which will be clearly listed in the What’s On Guide. 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!
Festival FAQs: Got a quick question? You might find the answer on our Frequently Asked Questions page here.
Workshops: Who are they for and how do you take part? Read our Workshops page for some useful information.
Art in Manufacturing: If you want to know more about Art in Manufacturing, the Current Season and past residencies, head to the dedicated Art in Manufacturing website.
Accessibility: Here you’ll find some quick guidance about what to expect over the festival weekend. The page will be updated with specific venue access details once the full programme is announced.
If you need to contact us or would like a chat about any of the above, email info@festivalofmaking.co.uk, message us on social media, or call 07766 240 474. The mobile number is monitored 10am-5pm on weekdays, but leave a message and someone will get back to you.