Bolsover Turns Out in Force for Derbyshire Makes Festival
Bolsover Turns Out in Force for Derbyshire Makes Festival
Bolsover town centre came alive with creativity on Saturday 16 May as residents and visitors gathered for Derbyshire Makes, a free, family-friendly festival celebrating local talent, community spirit and the arts.
Programmed by charity Junction Arts, the event transformed the town into a vibrant cultural hub, offering a packed programme of live music, art workshops, film screenings, exhibitions and a spectacular live performance featuring local community groups at its heart.
A standout moment of the day was Parade – The Giant Wheel, an award-winning outdoor performance by Autin Dance Theatre. The production featured a 12-foot-tall moving wheel, operated by five professional dancers and accompanied by live music and a large cast of local performers. Community groups, including Boza Youth Inc, Brockley Primary School and Bolsover Beats samba band, worked closely with the company to bring the performance to life.
Visitors were invited to get hands-on with a wide range of workshops, including lantern-making and heritage crafts, while the popular Teenage Market highlighted the work of talented young local makers.
Image credit: Richard Tymon
Creative workshops, programmed by the Creative Women’s Network, proved popular, with people of all ages trying their hand at activities such as weaving, copper ring making, embroidery and silk painting.
Local creativity was further celebrated through Made in Bolsover, a special film screening and photography exhibition held at Old Bolsover Yard. The showcase featured contributions from community groups and creatives, including Meet & Make, Doe Lea Centre, Opus Music, Platform Thirty1, Bolsover Beats, Bolsover Teenage Market and local poet and facilitator Tyler Turner.
Bolsover Festival of the Arts at Bolsover Castle was also taking place, offering an additional programme of live music, spoken word, dance, art installations and artisan markets, making it a landmark day for arts and culture across the town.
Jemma Burton, Project Manager at Junction Arts, said:
“It’s been amazing to bring Derbyshire Makes to Bolsover, a town that has creativity and community at its core. Local people and visitors enjoyed top-notch entertainment and performances, had a go at craft activities, and celebrated local artists and makers in the town. A huge thank you to all our event partners, artists, staff, volunteers and everyone who came along and made the day so special.
“The success of Derbyshire Makes in Bolsover highlights the strength of local collaboration and the growing appetite for accessible cultural events that bring communities together through creativity.”
Now in its second year, Derbyshire Makes is Derbyshire County Council’s flagship programme of cultural events across the county. It celebrates the region’s rich heritage of making while highlighting its thriving contemporary creative industries.
The festival has been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England and Derbyshire County Council, with additional heritage activity supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of Derbyshire Makes History.
For more information, visit: www.derbyshiremakes.co.uk