Making Creativity Happen: The £1.5m vision to transform Blackburn’s already super-successful Making Rooms

The £1.5m vision to transform Blackburn’s already super-successful Making Rooms into the UK’s leading makerspace is as bold as its creators!

Makers from across Europe are putting Blackburn right at the top of their list of places to visit, and there’s one reason why: The Making Rooms.

Situated in the heart of Blackburn’s thriving and ever-expanding cultural hub, it’s a space where visitors can develop skills in everything from 3D printing and ceramics to textiles and electronics.

And visit they do – in their thousands and from right across the continent.

The Making Rooms is where ideas become reality, where knowledge is shared generously, and where makers are inspired not just locally but internationally too.

And it’s about to get even bigger and even better.

Thanks to £1.5m in Government funding secured by Blackburn with Darwen Council, the incredible team behind The Making Rooms is preparing to double its current offering at 1 Exchange Street – expanding into the basement and even onto the roof.

What started as a ‘blue-sky idea’ and a ‘pipe dream’ has evolved into grand plans that will undoubtedly establish The Making Rooms as the UK’s leading makerspace – if it isn’t already.

Leading this vision is Lab Director Tom Macpherson-Pope (pictured left) – a trailblazer in the maker world – along with his talented team and a dedicated group of volunteers.

And while the idea of travelling across Europe to visit a makerspace might sound far-fetched, it’s exactly what Tom does on his own holidays – taking the best of what he discovers abroad and bringing it home to develop further.

Tom told The Shuttle:

Most people don’t know what a makerspace is when they first walk through our door.

I suppose we’re the spectrum between art and craft, and hi-tech and robotics – a space for sharing ideas, knowledge, and learning, while also having the chance to access equipment that you wouldn’t usually get the chance to use elsewhere.

The Making Rooms really is a cool place.

As part of the exciting expansion plans, the basement – once a bank vault – will double the available space for making and experimenting, with over 10 new areas.

Here, creators will have access to an expanded range of facilities supporting everything from ceramics and metalwork to podcasting and cybersecurity and device repairs too.

The proposed new rooftop storey will feature a study room, breakout area, and an outdoor terrace with views over Blackburn’s historic skyline and the rolling Darwen moors beyond.

This new space promises to inspire fresh thinking, with an Eco Lab focused on sustainable innovations, such as biomaterials and robotic farming equipment.

Central to the plans is ensuring the entire building is fully accessible – breaking down barriers and welcoming even more people into the creative community.

This project is a dream come true, Tom added.

The potential this expansion offers are incredible – it will truly transform The Making Rooms into the UK’s leading makerspace.

Tom and his team work tirelessly to ensure almost everything at The Making Rooms is free to access.

Thanks to new funding from the Brian Mercer Trust, the space is now open seven days a week.

Go on, start ‘making’ your plans to visit now!

Whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned maker, you can find out more about The Making Rooms at: www.makingrooms.org

And for all the latest updates on the planned expansion and what’s on, follow The Making Rooms on Facebook and Instagram.