Published Tuesday 7 July 2026 at 10:27
What do you get when you mix critically acclaimed artists and makers, celebrity comedian and ceramicist Johnny Vegas, and a Bhangra dancing robot?
It can only be the spectacular National Festival of Making!
And this weekend it brought all of this and so much more to Blackburn town centre – transforming cultural venues, empty shops and back-yard spaces, even offering puppet making in a pub!
Highlights were, of course, the Art in Manufacturing commissions, which pair artists with local industry and partners to create incredible new works – like the festival itself, being free to enjoy.
It brought bread-making mixed with bronze, fascinating prototypes for poured-earth homes, a billiard table wrapped in aluminium inspired by a story of uniting the classes, and electronic music scores created using car engine frequencies.
Further festival commissions included a new installation about British Asian identity, futurism and family archives and an incredible collection of new vases featuring Northern sayings, created in a studio shed replicated in Blackburn Museum.
The long rundown of live performances were a huge hit too across King William Street, Cathedral Square and beyond, with the crowds dancing, clapping and cheering, even in the rain.
They included everything from Bollywood dancing to a tribute to ladies’ football and a street-party busking stage, as well as the hugely popular Punjabi Roots featuring a special guest appearance from Blackburn College’s very own robot.
Then there was the making – from mask making and banner making to printing, woodworking and heritage crafts, and even the chance to create your favourite Wallace and Gromit characters with the team from Aardman.
To top it all off, there was a brand new film programme too, with special guests including Blackburn-born director Michael Winterbottom, Shabaz Says and comedian and actor Johnny Vegas, who discussed his love for ceramics and second career as a ceramicist.
The film programme, presented in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and the University of Lancashire, also offered film screenings, talks and public auditions for a brand new film based in Blackburn, The Cotton Kings.
The film programme closed with a screening of Rave Culture: A New Era, a new feature length documentary by Eduardo Cubillo Blasco that takes audiences into the heart of the rave revolution.
And all of this is just the tip of the iceberg with a 40-page programme packed with things to see and do with something for everyone.
Rosy Greenlees, the new Chair of the National Festival of Making, said:
The National Festival of Making is about curiosity, creativity and fun and this year’s festival has been even bigger and even better.
It’s once again brought thousands of people together over a weekend packed with exhibitions, live performances, hands-on workshops, film screenings, makers markets, street food and more.
It’s a celebration of making in all its forms, transforming Blackburn’s streets and iconic spaces with free activities while bringing profile and economic impact to the town – reminding us of its proud heritage and its continuing significance as a centre of creativity and innovation.
I’d like to thank every single person involved, especially the festival team, led by Lauren Zawadzki and Elena Jackson, and the dedicated volunteers who have once again made it a huge success.
It’s now almost 10 years since the Festival of Making first started, in a bid to transform the cultural offering in the town and breathe new life into its spaces.
At a special opening at The Exchange, Alastair Murdoch described how, during the first festival, the former cinema building was in such a poor state that only 20 people could be allowed inside at one time – all wearing hard hats.
Now, the space has just reopened following the completion of an impressive new entrance, part of a £10m restoration project led by Re:Ignite Church and supported by Council and Government funding.
Speaking at the opening, Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, a proud supporter of the festival, said:
When discussions about a potential event started back in 2016/2017, incredibly, more people were employed in manufacturing in Blackburn with Darwen than anywhere else in the whole country and that is how the Festival of Making came about.
We wanted to give people living here, working here and making things a real sense of pride and celebrate our rich industrial heritage – a fascinating history of making – while imagining a future with a strong cultural offering.
When those discussions started, the success of this event and the way it has put Blackburn on the map was inconceivable – it has become everything we could have ever wished for and so much more.
Today, we’ve heard Jen Cleary, Director of Combined Arts and North, Arts Council England, describe how Blackburn with Darwen is ‘leading the way’ with our cultural ambitions and the festival is a huge driving force behind that, alongside our commitment to investing in culture and an absolute determination to say ‘yes’ and support ideas like this to help boost our towns and communities.
Evidence shows that, while the festival is enjoyed by thousands of residents from right across the borough, more than 40% of visitors travel from outside of Blackburn with Darwen, with one visitor on Facebook saying they were coming from New Zealand.
And studies show that it helps contribute almost £2m to Blackburn town centre, having a huge economic impact, felt by businesses, local artists, makers and suppliers.
Venues used across the weekend included Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Prism Contemporary, The Making Rooms, Blackburn Library, Blakey Moor Terrace andBlackburn Cathedral.
There was also a popular Maker’s Market along Church Street as well as tasty street food on offer.
The Art in Manufacturing commissions paired:
- Abigail Hampsey + Bronzecast, JJ Sandham LTD and Artisan Food Producers
- Alina Akbar + Awesome GTI & Performance M
- Matter at hand + Darwen Terracotta
- Penelope Payne + Haworth Art Gallery
In addition, there were also two festival commissions:
- Ben Hall: Practise Makes Pigeons (Delivered in Partnership with Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery)
- Hetain Patel: We Are Alloys
You can read more about Art in Manufacturing, the artists and the commissions at the new-look festival website: festivalofmaking.co.uk
For a full round-up from across the weekend, including pictures and videos, follow National Festival of Making on Facebook (@festofmaking) and Instagram (@thefestivalofmaking).