Derby Museum of Making to host annual festival

Publish date: 2024-09-02

By Amy PhippsBBC News

Derby Museums Museum of MakingDerby MuseumsThe festival is taking place at Derby Silk Mill, part of the Derwent Valley Mills Unesco World Heritage Site

A Derby museum, on the site of what is widely regarded as the world's first factory, is hosting a festival to celebrate making things.

Fifty makers, engineers, tinkerers, crafters and hobbyists are expected to showcase their creations at the Museum of Making on Saturday.

Among them is a designer who transforms old woolly jumpers into hot water bottle covers.

There will also be performances and workshops for visitors.

The annual event - called Assemble: Derby's Making Festival - is organised by Derby Museums to celebrate makers and making in all forms.

The organisers said there would be demonstrations on everything from weaving to jewellery-making.

Rolls-Royce engineers will be testing the strength of chocolate and Aardman Animations will be showing visitors how to make a model from a Shaun the Sheep film.

Kate Lowe Photography / Derby Museums Children involved in a making activityKate Lowe Photography / Derby MuseumsVisitors will have the chance to try things

Some "makers" will also running workshops giving visitors a chance to try things like clay-modelling, woodworking, sewing or robotics.

Woodsmith Alistair Farson will be among those at the festival.

He said: "It's fantastic to be able to create in front of an audience, to allow people to see the transformation of a log into a sculpture."

The event is taking place between 10:00 and 16:00 BST in the Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill, part of the Derwent Valley Mills Unesco World Heritage Site.

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