Chesterfield will kick off a new and exciting cultural programme called Derbyshire Makes.
Families, adolescents, adults and retirees are invited to join in. Make your mark, make a mess, and make a difference – because Derbyshire Makes needs you to make it special.
Derbyshire Makes is a three-year cultural programme with free activities happening throughout the county. Arts Derbyshire is coordinating the programme across six hubs and Junction Arts is the hub lead for Chesterfield and Bolsover.
Celebrating the town’s formidable making heritage through a series of free events. You can meet the experts and creatives as they share their knowledge and ideas at the Derbyshire Creative Heritage Conference in the Town Hall. Meet the Maker and try some traditional skills in West Studios or find innovative ways to transform old materials in a series of workshops led by Clothes-Wise. You can also see Kaleidoscope, a new piece of public art by Lucie Maycock and take part in a fun workshop inspired by the installation.
There is a mix of sessions and workshops – some are drop-in, while others require advance booking. Please check ahead of your visit.
The Derbyshire Creative Heritage Conference – Friday 28th March. Fully booked
Chesterfield Town Hall & West Studios
9.30am – 3.30pm
The Derbyshire Creative Heritage Conference is coming to Chesterfield in March. Entitled Derbyshire Makes: Honouring Tradition | Inspiring Future Makers it will shine a light on heritage crafts and skills, giving the national, countywide and local perspective on this important sector.
The conference will also celebrate some of the traditional crafts associated with the region and discover how they can be protected and evolve for future generations, with speakers, live demonstrations and ‘have a go’ opportunities for delegates.
This activity is now fully booked.
Box Making – Friday 28th (fully booked) & Saturday 29th March (drop in session)
Workshop one 10.30am-12.30am
Workshop two 1.30pm-3.30pm
Box Making workshop led by artist Charlotte Land.
Take your inspiration from Chesterfield’s rich manufacturing heritage and the packaging made by Robinson and Sons Ltd and make a beautiful box to take home.
This activity is now fully booked.
Pottery – Saturday 29th March. Fully booked
Workshop one: 10.00am – 12.00pm
Workshop two: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
West Studios, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 7LL View Map
Join artist Clare Gage for a hands on clay workshop inspired by Chesterfield’s pottery past and the work of Chesterfield based ceramic artist William Gordon. You will make a hand-built vase with owl design and explore textures and the sgraffito technique. Beginners welcome.
This activity is now fully booked.
The Makory – Friday 28th & Saturday 29th March
10.00am – 4.00pm
The Market Hall entrance, Chesterfield, S40 1AR
A mobile activity space from Derby Museums will visit each town centre as part of the festival. Carefully selected exhibits relevant to each town will be on display from local heritage collections including never before seen items from Derby Museums and the Derbyshire Records Office. In each town an artist will lead free drop-in making workshops inspired by the exhibits.
Drop in – no booking required.
Dare to Dream – Friday 28th & Saturday 29th March
10.00am – 4.00pm
Indoor Market, The Market Hall, Chesterfield, S40 1AR
Be a part of a monumental artwork celebrating Derbyshire’s textiles heritage. Inspired by Derbyshire’s history of innovation, Dare to Dream invites everyone from across the county (and beyond!) to create new flags embodying hope, aspiration and radical thinking.
This is our chance to discover Derbyshire’s textiles heritage, create a monumental artwork together, and dream of a better future through making. Using old, unwanted fabrics and found materials, we invite you to make powerful statements of possibility using flags, garments or banners.
Drop in – no booking required.
The Curing Chemists – Saturday 29th March
10.00am – 3.30pm
Chesterfield Market, Chesterfield, S40 1AR
Watch out for the Curing Chemists as they wander Chesterfield’s Market helping passers-by and offering the perfect remedy for what-so-ever is wrong with you…. Mixing a splash of silly science and ridiculous potions and lotions, we dare to offer nothing but fun.
ClothesWise Upcycling
Workshop 1: Have a Go at Sewing! – Saturday 29th March
10.00am – 11.30am
The Hub, 61 Low Pavement, Chesterfield, S40 1PB
Learn basic hand-sewing and machine sewing skills aimed at mending, altering and up-cycling clothing to make it last for longer.
Over 18s only, all materials provided.
Workshop 2: Up-cycling with Fabric Scraps – Sunday 30th March
10.00am – 11.30am
The Hub, 61 Low Pavement, Chesterfield, S40 1PB
Learn how to up-cycle clothing into rag-rugs, decorate and mend clothing using patchwork, make a lace-trimmed hair scrunchie or fabric flowers.
Over 18s only, all materials provided.
Workshop 3: Clothes-Wise Banner – Sunday 30th March
12.00pm – 1.30pm
The Hub, 61 Low Pavement, Chesterfield, S40 1PB
Help to make a “Clothes-Wise” Banner using simple embroidery, fabric pens, buttons and trims and patchwork.
Over 18s only, all materials provided.
Workshop 4: Up-cycled Denim Project – Sunday 30th March
2.00pm – 3.30pm
The Hub, 61 Low Pavement, Chesterfield, S40 1PB
Contribute to a wonderful up-cycled denim cloak, which will feature in our Sustainable Fashion week “Alternative Catwalk” show in September.
Over 18s only. All materials provided.
Book your place for the above workshops.
The Chesterfield Postcard Show Workshop – Saturday 29th March
Workshop one: 10.00am – 12.30pm
Workshop two: 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Sorbo Lounge, 1 Market Pl, Chesterfield, S40 1TW
Come along and design your mini masterpiece with the help of local artist John King.
Drop in – no booking required.
Kaleidoscope Workshop – Saturday 29th March
Workshop one: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Workshop two: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
West Studios, Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield, S41 7LL
Explore colour and light, shadows and reflections with artist Rachel Scanlon in this fun kaleidoscope making workshop.
Mountains of the Moon – Film Screening & Drama Workshop – Saturday 29th March
Workshop one: 10.30am – 12.30pm (Booking required)
Workshop two: 1.30pm – 3.30pm (drop in session)
Owl, Bat, Camel, Monkey and Gecko need to find a way to replenish their river. None of their ideas work and they are dying as they travel to the Mountains of the Moon to search for the Rain God and make him cry – so the river can fill up again.
Involving local actors, writers (Writers in the Peak) and producers, Mountains of the Moon tells the tale of a group of animal friends who together solve their problem of running out of water. The film will be accompanied by a fun drama workshop.
Check out what other activities are taking place across Derbyshire.
