Derbyshire Makes celebrates a landmark second year

Across spring and summer 2026, more than 79,000 people across the county and beyond engaged with Derbyshire Makes through festivals, exhibitions, workshops, talks, performances and hands-on making experiences, while more than 14,000 people actively took part in creative activities designed to inspire, connect communities and celebrate local heritage.

The programme has also positively impacted Derbyshire’s creative economy, employing 243 creative practitioners, supporting 87 creative and cultural businesses, awarding 28 community and heritage grants worth more than £51,000, alongside 28 specialist bursaries to help develop the county’s next generation of creative talent.

To champion the region’s visitor economy and local high streets, six town-wide festivals animated venues and high streets in Cromford, Chesterfield, Swadlincote, Heanor, Glossop and Bolsover throughout April and May.

The festivals attracted visitors from across the county and beyond, bringing high streets to life and showcasing the remarkable creativity that exists within Derbyshire’s communities.

Alongside the festivals, Derbyshire Makes expanded its countywide programme with a series of initiatives designed to nurture skills, celebrate heritage and create new opportunities.

The Women Who Make programme continued to grow through a programme of webinars, walks and talks, culminating in a showcase festival at Hardwick Hall celebrating women working across heritage, craft and creative industries. Following its success, another festival will be held on 10 October 2026 at Masson Mills.

Derby Museums’ Makory Bus touring programme continued to take creativity directly into communities across Derbyshire, working with local artists to reach new audiences through creative heritage workshops, while Dare to Dream hosted sewing bee events in Ashbourne and Glossop, engaging communities to dream big through flag and banner making ahead of its finale in spring 2027.

Meanwhile, the successful STEAM into ACTION pilot demonstrated the potential of hands-on creative learning, and the programme is now expanding across Derbyshire, inspiring young people to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and maths through creative design challenges developed with artists and industry partners.

Councillor John Lawson, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency, said:

“Derbyshire Makes celebrates everything that makes Derbyshire special – our creativity, our heritage, our skilled makers and the people who bring our incredible towns and villages to life.

“As well as delivering memorable experiences for audiences, Derbyshire Makes continues to support wider priorities around economic growth, regeneration, wellbeing and place-making, creating opportunities for local people while strengthening Derbyshire’s reputation as a destination for creativity, culture and innovation.

“The programme has also built stronger partnerships between local authorities, cultural organisations, community groups, educational institutions and creative businesses, laying the foundations for long-term sustainability and future growth.”

Dr Claire Tymon from Local, which partnered with Derbyshire County Council on the projects, said:

“Derbyshire has always been a county of makers. From our industrial heritage to the incredible artists, craftspeople, designers and creative businesses working here today, making is part of who we are.

“Derbyshire Makes is helping ensure that tradition continues by investing in people as much as places. Through festivals, workshops, bursaries, community projects and creative learning, we’re creating opportunities for people of all ages to develop new skills, discover creative careers and celebrate the talent that exists in every corner of the county.”

With Year 2 nearing completion, planning is already underway for the next year of Derbyshire Makes, with six more festivals, expanded countywide activity, a large-scale schools’ competition, further grant-funded projects and more opportunities for communities to celebrate, create and connect.

2027 Festival dates

3 April – Glossop
10 April – Bolsover
17 April – Swadlincote
24 April – Heanor
1 & 2 May – Cromford
8 May – Chesterfield

As Derbyshire Makes continues to evolve, its ambition remains clear: to champion the county’s remarkable creative talent, celebrate its rich industrial and cultural heritage, and ensure making remains at the heart of Derbyshire’s future for generations to come.

There’s a lot to celebrate and even more that couldn’t be captured in words.

From making and performances to festivals, workshops and communities coming together across the county, our 2026 highlights film captures just some of the people, places and moments that made this year of Derbyshire Makes so special.