Derbyshire Makes to return to Chesterfield in 2027
Derbyshire Makes will return to Chesterfield on Saturday, 8th May 2027, following a second year of creative festivals and activities celebrating the county’s heritage, makers and communities.
Delivered by Derbyshire County Council in partnership with cultural organisations, artists, heritage partners and communities, Derbyshire Makes is a three-year programme celebrating creativity, craft, design and making across Derbyshire.
Chesterfield has hosted festival activity across several of our town-centre venues, including New Square, The Pavements Shopping Centre, Chesterfield Town Hall, Sorbo Lounge and Chesterfield Library, bringing creative experiences into different parts of the town.
Derbyshire Makes held six town-wide festivals during April and May 2026, including in Chesterfield, Cromford, Swadlincote, Heanor, Glossop and Bolsover. The festivals aimed to attract visitors, bring high streets to life and showcase the creativity found within local communities.
Across spring and summer 2026, more than 79,000 people engaged with Derbyshire Makes through festivals, exhibitions, workshops, talks, performances and hands-on making experiences. More than 14,000 people actively took part in creative activities designed to connect communities and celebrate local heritage.
The programme also supported Derbyshire’s creative economy by employing creative practitioners, supporting cultural businesses, awarding community and heritage grants worth more than £51,000, and providing specialist bursaries to help develop emerging creative talent.
Councillor John Lawson, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency, said:
“Derbyshire Makes celebrates everything that makes Derbyshire special – our creativity, our heritage, our skilled makers and the people who bring our incredible towns and villages to life.
As well as delivering memorable experiences for audiences, Derbyshire Makes continues to support wider priorities around economic growth, regeneration, wellbeing and place-making, creating opportunities for local people while strengthening Derbyshire’s reputation as a destination for creativity, culture and innovation.
“The programme has also built stronger partnerships between local authorities, cultural organisations, community groups, educational institutions and creative businesses, laying the foundations for long-term sustainability and future growth.”
What to expect in 2027
Planning is underway for the third year of Derbyshire Makes, with six further festivals, expanded county-wide activity, a large-scale schools competition and more grant-funded projects planned for 2027.
The festival will visit Glossop on 3rd April, Bolsover on 10th April, Swadlincote on 17th April, Heanor on 24th April, Cromford on 1st and 2nd May, and Chesterfield on 8th May.
Derbyshire Makes receives funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside support from Derbyshire County Council. The programme aims to celebrate the county’s industrial and cultural heritage, support creative talent and create opportunities for communities to connect through making.
Discover more events and what’s happening in Chesterfield here.
