Derbyshire Makes Returns April - May 2026 With Heritage And Future Making
Residents will be encouraged to get creative this spring with the return of Derbyshire County Council’s flagship Derbyshire Makes festival at six locations across the county.
Derbyshire Makes aims to celebrate making in all its forms and shine a spotlight on the county’s extraordinary making heritage and creative and cultural industries.
The festival, now in its second year, will transform high streets, heritage sites and public spaces into vibrant hubs of activity, bringing together artists, makers, performers and communities to shine a light on Derbyshire’s extraordinary past, present and future. Six locations across the county will each host a full day of free, family-friendly activity. They are:
• Cromford Mills – Saturday 11 April
• Chesterfield – Saturday 18 April
• Swadlincote – Saturday 25 April
• Heanor – Saturday 2 May
• Glossop – Saturday 9 May
• Bolsover – Saturday 16 May
The festival has been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the county council.
Each festival hub will be locally programmed and rooted in place, combining hands-on workshops, demonstrations, performances, parades and have-a-go activities designed to welcome audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Across the six festival days, audiences can look forward to standout performances from a line-up of acclaimed UK artists and companies, including Matt Pang, Autin Dance Theatre, John Whall and Maison Foo.
A wide-ranging programme of free and low-cost events will also be held in other locations across the county during April and May. This extended activity offers meaningful ways for residents and visitors to get involved in a wide range of creative activities including:
• Meet the Maker events at Cromford Mill – series of talks and discussions with local artists and makers.
• Creative and heritage displays in libraries across the county – from object spotlights and mini-exhibitions to community showcases.
• Hands-on workshops for families, young people and adults – textiles, craft, digital making and more delivered with partner venues and community organisations.
• Grants-supported activities through Derbyshire Makes– new projects and public events delivered by groups and organisations during the festival period.
The Makory
The Makory, Derby Museums’ mobile makerspace, will tour town centres and communities throughout the festival period, supported through Derbyshire Makes History - a two-year programme with an exclusive heritage focus, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, complementing the wider three-year Derbyshire Makes programme.
Bringing carefully selected heritage objects (including rarely seen items) together with free, artist-led drop-in workshops, The Makory creates a welcoming pop-up space for creative exploration and conversation right where people live.
Dare to Dream
Dare to Dream is a countywide creative mass participatory initiative inviting people of all ages to create flags and banners from repurposed materials that express hopes for the future. Community sewing bee events and workshops will run in community venues during spring, building a growing collection that will continue towards a major installation planned for 2027.
Women Who Make
Women Who Make is a year-round programme that connects women across Derbyshire through creativity, conversation and shared experience. During the festival period, talks, guided walks, workshops and networking events offer ways to meet makers, access heritage spaces and develop new skills.
Through its 2026 programme, Derbyshire Makes aims to attract new audiences and visitors from across the region and beyond; shine a spotlight on Derbyshire’s towns, people and making processes; celebrate heritage stories while inviting future dreams; and inspire young people to get involved through schools activity, family festivals and accessible creative experiences. The programme also supports the cultural and heritage sector through commissions, partnerships and skills development, building momentum towards an ambitious county-wide programme in 2027.
Derbyshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration Councillor Rob Reaney said: “Derbyshire has a rich heritage of making and Derbyshire Makes aims to shine a light on our creative and cultural industries and celebrate making in all its forms.
“This year the festival is back and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever with loads of events and activities to try.
“As well as strengthening the local cultural economy and supporting the creative and heritage sector in our local communities, it is hoped that Derbyshire Makes will help to inspire the next generation of makers to ensure Derbyshire’s creative past lives on in the future.
“Look out for more details coming soon.”
Liz Johnson, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said: “Derbyshire Makes is a great example of how creativity and culture can bring communities together, make our lives richer, and make us feel proud of the places we call home. It’s supported through our Place Partnership programme, which uses money from the National Lottery to transform an area’s cultural offer and make a lasting impact.
“Rooted in Derbyshire’s rich history of making and craftmanship, the impressive programme includes many brilliant opportunities for local people to get stuck in, discover new interests, learn new skills and experience the joy that creativity can bring.”
Derbyshire Makes History – a two-year programme with an exclusive heritage focus, is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, complementing the wider three-year Derbyshire Makes programme.
Most Derbyshire Makes History events are free to attend with some events that require payment and booking. Further programme details will be announced in spring 2026.
For more information and updates, visit www.derbyshiremakes.co.uk, sign up to the mailing list, or follow @DerbyshireMakes on social media.
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