Art in Manufacturing series makes ‘magic’ at this year’s National Festival of Making

Don’t miss your chance to see specially commissioned artworks across Blackburn as part of the annual National Festival of Making.

Created for the renowned ‘Art in Manufacturing’ series, the programme pairs artists with leading manufacturers in the North, bringing attention to the creativity and craftsmanship happening across Lancashire’s factories every day.

Each year, four artworks are commissioned as part of the series – and luckily there’s still a chance to see two of these pieces beyond the festival weekend.

Margo Selby’s ‘Breathing Colour’ is a vibrant artwork made in collaboration with Standfast & Barracks. This work was co-commissioned by the National Festival of Making and British Textile Biennial and will be on display at Blackburn Cathedral until 2pm Sunday 14 July. See the Cathedral website for opening hours and service times.

Selby is a celebrated British textile artist and winner of the Turner Medal for Britain’s Greatest Colourist. To continue this project, she is calling on the public to contribute to a digital and dynamic ‘living colour chart’. Visit the website to share a colour that is special to you. It could be a colour memory from childhood, a favourite pair of socks, or a colour that resonates with you today. Make it as personal as you like!

You can also see a ceramic tapestry from emerging artist Nehal Aamir, drawing on the people and processes of Darwen Terracotta and Faience and inspired by the 150th Anniversary at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery and the Museums historic collection. This beautiful display will be exhibited until September. Check the Museum website for opening hours.

The artworks have been praised following their grand reveal at the award-winning National Festival of Making last weekend, drawing tens of thousands of people to Blackburn town centre with a jam-packed programme of installations, family-friendly workshops, talks, live performances and more.

Cllr Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, thoroughly enjoyed the festivities over the weekend, saying:

I’m once again blown away by the creativity on display at this years Festival of Making.

The Art in Manufacturing pieces are particularly impressive, making magic across multiple venues in our town centre.

The Festival always brings a distinctive vibrancy to Blackburn, drawing visitors from far and wide with world-class art installations, workshops and performances.

Each year there is such a wonderful variety of free activity that celebrates the rich making and industrial heritage that is in Blackburn with Darwen’s DNA.

I encourage everyone to get out and visit the Art in Manufacturing installations whilst they’re still on display – you won’t be disappointed!

Art in Manufacturing is the headline commissioning programme of the National Festival of Making. This year, residencies took place over nine months between November 2023 and July 2024.  The programme is a unique platform for artists to develop their practice and to create playful collaborations between themselves and the industrial workforce. Visit the website for more information on other works in the series.

Elena Jackson, Co-Director of the National Festival of Making and Programme Curator for Art in Manufacturing, said:

We are excited to showcase the work of leading UK creative talents, alongside established and next generation artists, in Blackburn’s annual celebration of making.

We want Blackburn to be seen far and wide as the natural home of making, both in the past and looking to the future, and with so much creative talent right here, it’s a privilege to be able to platform that through the festival programme.

The National Festival of Making is supported by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Arts Council England, the Brian Mercer Trust and Blackburn BID. It also benefits from funding from the UK Government, including through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.