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What is Derbyshire Makes?

Creatives, crafters, artists anyone up for having a go - coming together for Derbyshire's new celebration of making.

Derbyshire is a place that makes. Home of the world’s first water powered mills and the birthplace of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, this is a county that’s great at innovation. Eclectic inventions have had their origins here – from the Arabesque coffee pot to Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft, from the lifesaving Plimsoll Line to the hot dog. The county’s gritstone ridges, limestone valleys and heather-frosted moors have long inspired artists, and now Derbyshire Makes is creating new opportunities for local residents and makers.

Derbyshire Makes is a new programme of cultural events across the county - including projects produced by local communities and commissions from Derbyshire artists. It launches with the free Derbyshire Makes Festival, an annual event taking place across six distinct local Hubs.

Where are the events?

Derbyshire Makes Festival takes place from Friday 28 March to Sunday 27 April 2025 – unfolding across six local Hubs over five weeks. In Chesterfield, Heanor, Cromford, Glossop, Bolsover and Swadlincote, there will be artist talks, craft-based demonstrations and making opportunities, as well as exhibitions, performances and more.

Beyond the festival, our countywide programme of activities is designed to provide year-round engagement opportunities for artists and makers – with Women Who Make focussing on artists, makers, designers and activists who identify as women, and MAKE Room exploring our relationship to Nature. Our mass making project Dare to Dream invites thousands of people to be a part of a monumental artwork in celebration of Derbyshire’s textiles heritage – and come together to dream of a better future through making.

    Plan your visit

    Located in the East Midlands of England, Derbyshire is well connected to major cities including Manchester, Birmingham and London by public transport.

    Whether you're travelling to Derbyshire, or making a journey within the county, here's our guide to getting around.

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