The Makory

What is the Makory?

The Makory is Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace – a bright, welcoming mobile workshop and mini-gallery that brings creative adventures directly to communities across the county.

In 2026–27, the Makory will hit the road with a brand-new programme inspired by Derbyshire’s innovators, makers and dreamers. From light experiments and circular design to hands-on craft sessions and playful community making, each stop on the tour invites you to explore the themes of:

Experiment & Enlightenment – curiosity, ideas and joyful discovery

Industry & Innovation – invention, making and re-imagining materials

Community & Craft – connection, creativity and stories of place

The Makory will pop up in towns and villages across Derbyshire with free workshops, school sessions, a small touring exhibition and activities led by brilliant local artists. At every stop, you’ll help shape something new – adding your ideas, your making, and your voice to a growing countywide story.

Everyone is welcome aboard the Makory.
Come get hands-on, be inspired by Derbyshire’s past and future, and celebrate the creativity of the place you call home.

The Makory Tour 2026

28 March - Matlock

18-19 April - Buxton

25 April - Ashbourne

03-04 May -Belper

09 May - Glossop

16 May - Bolsover

17 May - Creswell Crags

23 May - Hardwick Hall

The Makory is supported by Derbyshire Makes and Derbyshire Makes History, with funding from Derbyshire County Council, Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Strips of stickers of eyes, some with eyelashes, some half closed in black and white on a wooden table — The Makory, Wirksworth Arts Festival 2024. Photo Richard Tymon

Side view of a large bus parked on cobbles in front of a red brick building. The bus is mostly golden yellow in colour with shapes in different colours - green bottle bank, pink bobbin and blue side view of a hot dog. Derbyshire Makes is written in red at the front of the bus — The Makory. Photo Richard Tymon

A young boy with red hair wearing a patterned orange hoodie bends down to draw on a table. A woman with glasses and blonde hair stands behind him. In front of them are cases containing objects — The Makory. Photo Richard Tymon

Woman with long curly hair bends over a table picking up objects as a toddler watches — The Makory, Heanor. Photo Richard Tymon

Derby Museums

Derby Museums is an independent charitable trust operating three museums: the Museum and Art Gallery, Museum of Making and Pickford’s House. It cares for the collections of cultural heritage on behalf of Derby City Council for the people of Derby. It also houses the Royal Lancers Museum.

Derby Silk Mill is widely regarded as the site of the world’s first modern factory and is in the Derwent Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has recently opened as the UK’s first Museum of Making. Derby Museums has the finest collection of work by Joseph Wright of Derby, the 18th century artist of the Enlightenment and is ‘Designated’ by Arts Council England as a collection of national significance. Derby’s identity was 300 years in the making, and the Enlightenment spirit of creativity and invention resonates today.

Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site

The Derwent Valley Mills and the surrounding landscape were inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001. The reason for this international recognition is that the valley saw the birth of the factory system, when new types of building were erected to house new technology for spinning cotton. The need to provide housing and other facilities resulted in the creation of the first modern industrial settlements.

Support from Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site supported the original development of The Makory.

Derbyshire Record Office

Derbyshire Record Office provides the archives and local studies services for the county, bringing Derbyshire's fascinating past to life for residents, visitors and students.

You can enjoy online and travelling exhibitions and explore local studies and archive collections. Derbyshire Record Office also catalogues and conserves the archives of the National Coal Board for Derbyshire.

Did you see The Makory at The Greatest Gathering in Derby?

As part of the celebrations for Railway 200, we sent The Makory along to The Greatest Gathering in Derby, with activities and mini exhibitions about Derbyshire's extraordinary railway heritage.

See if you can spot The Makory in the video below.