Chesterfield Celebrates creativity at Derbyshire Makes festival
Residents of all ages came together to celebrate Chesterfield’s creativity on Saturday, 18th April 2026, as the free Derbyshire Makes festival brought our town centre to life.
Led locally by arts charity and Chesterfield Champion, Junction Arts, the event saw artists, makers and community groups transform the town into a vibrant hub of creativity. The festival highlighted both Chesterfield’s rich heritage of making and its growing creative and cultural industries.
A major highlight of the day was The Great Chesterfield Make Off, where 40 local artists created brand-new work live in New Square. Visitors had the chance to watch creativity in action, discover emerging talent and experience the imagination and skill that define the town’s arts scene. From painters and potters to writers, performers, textile artists and designers, the Make Off turned the square into a dynamic open-air studio.
At Sorbo Lounge, visitors took part in hands-on, artist-led workshops, creating their own mini masterpieces to take home.
Meanwhile, The Pavements Shopping Centre hosted MakeLand, an immersive virtual reality installation by artist John Whall, alongside Chesterfield Makers, a photographic exhibition celebrating local creatives.
The streets were filled with energy thanks to live performances from internationally renowned artist Matt Pang, whose Thingamabob show entertained crowds throughout the day.
Interactive experiences added even more to the atmosphere, including the Newton-O-Matic, a playful installation inspired by Sir Isaac Newton, and Lady of the Loom, a roaming storyteller sharing curious objects and fascinating tales.
The festival also highlighted the endangered local heritage craft of lacemaking, highlighting the work of those preserving the tradition through a special exhibition at Chesterfield Library.
Now in its second year, Derbyshire Makes is Derbyshire County Council’s flagship programme of cultural events across the county. The free festival runs annually across six distinct local hubs between Saturday, 11th April and Saturday, 16th May, 2026.
Junction Arts Project Manager, Kylie North, said:
“We had a brilliant time bringing Derbyshire Makes to Chesterfield. The town has a strong heritage of making, alongside a new, exciting and growing creative community. Local people really embraced the fun and creativity of the day, a huge thank you to everyone who came out and took part.”
Derbyshire Makes is supported by funding from Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
To explore even more cultural events happening across Chesterfield, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events
Junction Arts is one of over 200 Chesterfield organisations that are proud to support the local economy, working closely with Destination Chesterfield to showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a destination to live, work, visit and invest.
Find out more about our Champions network.
