A triumph of creativity: National Festival of Making 2025 wows crowds in Blackburn

By Rob Kelly

07 Jul 2025

National Festival of Making 2025

Tens of thousands of visitors – from near and far – turned out to Blackburn at the weekend drawn by the promise of the ‘most exciting line-up yet’ for the National Festival of Making.

And the event didn’t just deliver – it exceeded all expectations!

Now in its ninth year, the festival team blew everyone away, bringing together works by globally renowned artists alongside a huge programme of more than 100 workshops, artist talks, performances, markets, music, and more.

Every inch of Blackburn town centre became a riot of colour, activity, and excitement, with people of all ages coming together to experience something new and creative.

Elena Jackson, National Festival of Making co-director, said: "From Friday’s industry talks programme and preview tours, to the last person taking part in a workshop as the festival closed, this weekend has been one of conversation and celebration, joy and hope.

"Tens of thousands of people experienced the best of Blackburn as exhibitions and installations were revealed throughout the town centre and festival audiences participated in everything the programme had to offer.

"National Festival of Making is about collaboration and we want to thank the fantastic volunteers, artists, venues and partners for approaching the weekend with such amazing ambition and energy."

In total, more than 20 venues across the town centre were used, including Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, The Making Rooms, The Bureau Centre for the Arts, The Mall, Tony’s Empress Ballroom, Blackburn Cathedral and Cathedral Square, Blackburn Youth Zone, and the length of King William Street – all bustling with activity across both days.

Jamie Holman, chair of the Festival of Making CIC, said: "This is a festival for everyone – for people from all walks of life to come together to enjoy art, creativity, and new experiences and the festival team is absolutely determined that everything we can make available for free at the festival is.

“We want the festival to genuinely inspire people, and the support of our funders and the passion of the festival team makes that happen – for which I am incredibly proud.”

Visitors to the town centre had already seen a brand-new mural begin to take shape in recent weeks as excitement built for the festival – a firm fixture in the national cultural calendar.

The Art in Manufacturing piece by artist Morag Myerscough – known for her work at Coachella and the Paris Olympics – was inspired by Blackburn’s Corporation Park and was created in collaboration with Darwen-based Crown Paints.

Art in Manufacturing is the festival’s headline commissioning programme, and it was recently shortlisted for the Global Arts Prize by the Global leaders Institute for Arts Innovation.

This year’s incredible line-up also included Matter at hand, the design studio of Lewis Jones, co-founder of the Turner Prize-winning Assemble Collective in collaboration with Darwen Terracotta, and Liaqat Rasul with Herbert Parkinson (a John Lewis partner), with festival-goers marvelling at the stunning pieces on display at Blackburn Cathedral.

You can read more about Art in Manufacturing and this year’s artists by clicking this link.

The Blakey Moor building – opposite King George’s Hall – was also opened to the public for the very first time since its impressive transformation as part of wider regeneration and investment in the area.

One person to visit was special guest, architect and TV presenter, George Clarke, who was given a guided tour before his sell-out talk at Blackburn Cathedral.

There, he told the packed audience how he was ‘taken aback’ by the sheer breadth of talent on display in the town, amazed by the incredible event which attracts people from around the world.

Back to Art in Manufacturing and Blakey Moor hosted ‘Radical Pairings,’ a celebration of previous Art in Manufacturing residencies, all documented in a new essay by art critic and writer, Elizabeth Fullerton.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Double digit promotions across Napthens Group 10 promotions at Napthens Group

Double digit promotions across Napthens Group

03 Oct 2025

2

Tourism Unsung Hero finalists revealed Jenny Moss Kate Pollard Peter Martland Andy Black

Tourism Unsung Hero finalists revealed

01 Oct 2025

3

Basil's in the pink Basil Newby

Basil's in the pink

30 Sep 2025

4

Celebrating the Women building Britain’s business future at The Enterprise Vision Awards The 2025 Enterprise Vision Award winners

Celebrating the Women building Britain’s business future at The Enterprise Vision Awards

30 Sep 2025

5

Business School recruits three industry leaders University of Lancashire recruit business leaders Rob Binns, Miranda Barker and Marcello Trovati new

Business School recruits three industry leaders

30 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world
Oct PTC.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October

Soul Bowl, Morecambe, LA4 4BU

08:00 - 10:00

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace
Muted Blue (4).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
08 Oct 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:30

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin