We’re excited to announce our partnership with Derbyshire Makes! Glossop is about to burst into life with creativity as we embark upon a brand-new, three-year cultural programme, which kicks off with an exciting free festival. This celebration will bring together artists, makers, and the community to explore and showcase craftsmanship across the county.
The Glossop festival will run over two days in Norfolk Square:
Tue 15 April 2025 2.00pm – 8.00pm
Wed 16 April 2025 10.00am – 4.00pm
Featuring free family-friendly activities during the day and hands-on workshops for adults in the evening, the festival will spotlight an exciting mix of artists and performers.
Meet the Artists and Get Involved:
Discover the talented artists featured in our upcoming Derbyshire Makes Festival in Glossop! Learn more about their projects and explore ways to get involved.
Fenn Bartels and Deb Pitman
This inspiring project sheds light on the challenges facing swifts—one of the UK’s most endangered birds—through a creative fusion of visual storytelling, live puppetry, and audience engagement. By linking this conservation effort with the endangered craft of marionetting, it aims to raise awareness while celebrating artistic expression.
Recently, a hands-on workshop in Glossop invited participants to decorate, assemble, and bring their wooden puppet swifts to life. We can’t wait to see them in action at the festival!
Gordon MacLellan
To inspire creativity, Gordon invites the community to co-create Lost Stories of Glossop, weaving together old photographs, local folktales, and imagination. Join Gordon at the below workshops before the festival to craft your very own pop-up creation and bring a story to life!
Wednesday 9th April – Glossop Library – Drop in Session – 11am – 3pm
Thursday 10th April – Hadfield Library – Drop in Session – 11am – 3pm
Clare Savory
Audio artist and sound therapist is inviting the public to help sound-map Glossop by recording everyday sounds throughout February and March. From birdsong to buses, these recordings will be transformed in a ‘lab-style’ workshop, where local musicians will turn them into a rolling audio tapestry.
Clare invites you to participate by sharing your everyday sounds. These could include anything from household beeps to the calls of local blackbirds (or any birds) and any sounds that would be missed if they disappeared. To contribute, email Clare directly at LongdendaleTales@gmail.com.
Film Cuts Club
One of our regular groups, The Film Cuts Club—a filmmaking club for young people with additional needs—will also be taking part in the festival. Attendees can explore digital art through VR headsets and enjoy thrilling film screenings.
We’re also inviting you to participate by submitting your videos for the Derbyshire Makes Cats Competition! Winners will be announced at the festival, so be sure to send in your entry by March 29th for a chance to be featured.
See more details and submit you entry here
Volunteering Opportunities:
We’re looking for helping hands to support the Glossop Derbyshire Makes Hub on April 15th and 16th, and we’d love for you to be part of it.
There are a variety of roles available, from welcoming attendees to providing general event support. Whether you can spare a few hours or the whole day, your help will make a huge difference in bringing this exciting event to life. If you are interested, please register your interest by filling out this form —we’d love to have you on board!
Across Derbyshire
Derbyshire Makes extends far beyond Glossop, launching simultaneously in six creative hubs across the county: Bolsover, Chesterfield, Cromford Mills, Heanor, Glossop, and Swadlincote. A mobile workshop and gallery on wheels, The Makory, will take creativity on the road, while a countywide mass-making project will invite thousands to participate in hands-on crafting. Beyond the opening festival, Derbyshire Makes will continue year-round with an inspiring line-up of walks, talks, exhibitions, markets, and workshops—celebrating the
region’s rich legacy of innovation and craftsmanship. From the worlds first water-powered mills to the birthplace of Vivienne Westwood, Derbyshire has always been a place that makes—and this festival invites everyone to take part.