The leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has expressed his enthusiasm for next weekend’s ‘showcase’ Festival of Making.
Cllr Phil Riley was speaking in the build-up to Saturday and Sunday’s ninth annual celebration of manufacturing and creativity.
His comments came as organisers of the event spread across dozens of venues in Blackburn town centre and the borough made a final call for volunteers to help make it another success.
Cllr Riley said: “Year-after-year, the Festival of Making attracts record crowds to Blackburn town centre and looking at the line-up for 2025, it’s easy to see why.
“It’s incredibly difficult for any event to cater for a wide and diverse range of people, but the festival does just that – bringing together our communities in the most brilliant way and attracting visitors from literally around the world.
“We are proud to partner with this nationally important event to help ensure much of what is on offer is free to enjoy, including helping to bring globally renowned artists here to Blackburn – showcasing the sort of quality you’d expect to see in major cities around the world.
“The festival is an important celebration of our industrial heritage as makers too – bringing together art and manufacturing with a creative spark and it’s a huge triumph – putting our borough on the cultural map and helping to create a genuine buzz about the place.
“Of course, a huge amount of hard work and effort goes into the festival and I’d once again like to thank the festival team – each and every year they raise the bar incredibly high, and I can’t wait to see the town packed with people enjoying all there is to offer.”
This year’s festival includes:
incredible new works from internationally renowned artists, including new commissioned work by Morag Myerscough, Matter at hand (the design studio of Lewis Jones, co-founder of the Turner Prize-winning Assemble), and Liaquat Rasul.
A special guest talk by George Clarke – architect and popular TV presenter.
An eclectic national exhibition ‘Come as You Really Are’ celebrating hobbies and hobbyists by artist Hetain Patel.
Dozens of FREE workshops, installations and live performances, including a powerful Nasheed choir performance.
Artisan food producers market curated by Taste Lancashire, plus street food stalls – creating a buzzing food and drink scene, including local and artisan makers.
A bustling Makers Market offering the wares of the UK’s most exciting independent makers.
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