Festival of Arts and Crafts

Every February. 2025 event dates and details to be confirmed

Previouslt the ‘Love Barnoldswick’ themed arts and crafts festival hosted dozens of artists, crafters and other creatives in venues across Barnoldswick town centre, with activities throughout the week leading to the grand finale on Saturday with exhibitions, a makers’ market, and hands-on activities for all ages. Throughout arts and crafts week, there was an art trail through Barnoldswick, featuring spectacular sculptures created from products made in Barnoldswick.

Sustainability was a strong strand of the 2023 arts and crafts festival’s ‘Love Barnoldswick’ theme. Children completing the art trail were rewarded with refillable water bottles which they were able to use at the growing number of refill stations in the town.

Activities took place throughout half-term week at various venues. Junk modelling sessions used waste material and packaging from local manufacturers, and sculptures were created using local companies’ products. There was lots going on throughout the arts and crafts week, ranging from chainsaw carving to creative writing.

A slideshow of Love Barnoldswick pictures were also projected onto a giant screen in the Town Square. Visitors found art installations along the art trail, together with a wide range of hands-on activities and artists’ demonstrations.

The Festival of Arts and Crafts 2023 event programme included:

• Junk modelling
• Lego and board games
• Photography exhibition
• Messy Munchkins messy play (preschool age)
• Creative writing group
• Children’s cookery class
• Stained Glass club
• Clay club
• Craft Wellbeing group
• Ali Greer Art Workshop: mixed media
• Live wood sculpting
• Steam engine museum and cafe open
• Crafts Group
• Barnoldswick Brass Band open evening
• Messy play
• Relaxed music workshop
• Medieval pewter craftsman live demo
• Heritage plaque restoration and talks
• Make bird feeders
• Makers’ Market
• Pie Championship
• Brewery demonstration
• Creative activities
• Sculpture exhibition
• Immersive children’s music workshop
• Pottery demonstration
• Textiles: make a Love Barnoldswick masterpiece
• Sewing workshop
• Art workshop
• Stained glass demo
• Felting demo
• Music production workshop