National Festival of Making

National Festival of Making The National Festival of Making is an annual United Kingdom cultural and industrial event celebrating craftsmanship, innovation, and manufacturing. Founded in 2017 in Preston, Lancashire, the festival brings together makers, businesses, cultural institutions, and civic organisations to showcase skills across art, engineering, design, and food. It fosters relationships between communities such as Blackpool, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and regional partners including Cumbria and Cheshire while drawing attention from national bodies like Arts Council England and Historic England.

History

The festival was launched in 2017 as a response to regional regeneration efforts associated with initiatives including the Town Deal and local enterprise partnerships such as the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, taking inspiration from manufacturing histories of places like Preston and industrial legacies evoked by sites such as Bamber Bridge and Millennium Mill. Early programming referenced narratives from the Industrial Revolution, echoes of firms like Leyland Motors and Blackburn textile heritage, and collaborations with institutions including University of Central Lancashire, National Trust, and British Library. Subsequent editions expanded scope through partnerships with cultural producers such as BBC Arts, Royal Society of Arts, Tate Modern, and regional museums like Harris Museum and Lancaster City Museum, while commissioning artists linked to movements represented by figures like Turner Prize nominees and makers associated with workshops influenced by techniques from Glasgow School of Art alumni. The festival navigated periods of contingency during national events including the COVID-19 pandemic and policy shifts from departments including the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Organisation and Funding

The festival is organised by a coalition of local authorities, cultural organisations, and commercial partners including Preston City Council, Visit Lancashire, Arts Council England, and trusts such as Heritage Lottery Fund (now National Lottery Heritage Fund). Funding models combine public grants, corporate sponsorship from regional firms and manufacturers reminiscent of companies like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce plc, and local SMEs, plus ticketing and commission revenues. Governance draws on advisory boards with representatives from higher education institutions including University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and industry bodies like the Manufacturing Technologies Association and trade associations parallel to MakeUK. Delivery partners have included creative agencies who previously worked with festivals like Latitude Festival and Cheltenham Festival and cultural networks linked to British Council programmes.

Programme and Events

Programming mixes commission-led exhibitions, hands-on workshops, trade showcases, and performance strands featuring practitioners from craft traditions such as ceramics associated with Emma Bridgewater-style studios, metalwork echoing Sheffield heritage, and textiles recalling William Morris-inspired practice. Events have included participatory making sessions run by collectives analogous to Maker Faire groups, technical demonstrations by engineers referencing methodologies used at International Manufacturing Technology Show-style expos, and talks with curators from V&A Museum and critics from outlets like The Guardian and BBC Radio 4. Festival stages present music and performance programming that has attracted artists in the vein of Field Day and curated discussions with design thinkers who have affiliations with Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins. Food and drink elements spotlight producers from networks similar to Slow Food and markets reminiscent of Borough Market.

Venues and Locations

Core events centre on industrial and cultural sites in Preston including the Harris Museum, disused mills repurposed like examples in Ancoats, and public spaces adjacent to railway heritage linked to Preston railway station. Satellite projects have extended into regional settings such as Blackburn cultural hubs, heritage docks comparable to Albert Dock, and manufacturing precincts evoking Salford Quays. Collaborations have incorporated university workshops at campuses akin to University of Central Lancashire and temporary installations in historically significant venues similar to St George's Hall, Liverpool.

Impact and Reception

Critical reception has noted contributions to local cultural regeneration similar to outcomes attributed to festivals like Manchester International Festival and civic initiatives championed in reports by bodies akin to County Councils Network. Commentators from media outlets comparable to The Times, Financial Times, and The Independent have discussed the festival’s role in foregrounding artisan skills and supply-chain conversations engaging companies like Siemens and Schneider Electric. Evaluations by cultural funders and economic development agencies have highlighted metrics such as visitor numbers, business engagement, and creative commissions, paralleling impact studies conducted for events such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Brighton Festival. The festival’s programming has been used as a case study in academic work from departments with links to University of Leeds and University of Sheffield on creative economies and place-making.

Category:Arts festivals in the United Kingdom