Residents in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, can soon take part in free creative workshops and heritage projects as part of a new local programme. Derbyshire Makes — a flagship initiative led by Derbyshire County Council and Arts Derbyshire — announced its 2026 Swadlincote plans on 9 February 2026.
The local schedule includes a new art trail called Swad’s Reet Good Art Trail and a Forest Makers’ Market. People Express, a Swadlincote-based community arts organisation, is the local delivery partner leading activities in the town to help residents connect and celebrate local history.
Most workshops and demonstrations will take place at Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, at The Delph market square, and in The Makory, a travelling makerspace. The county-wide Derbyshire Makes Festival runs from 11 April to 16 May 2026; Swadlincote’s hub day is scheduled for 25 April. Sessions will include wood-turning and pottery among other heritage-inspired making activities.
The programme is backed by a £780,000 investment from Arts Council England (via the Place Partnership award), with additional funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It highlights Swadlincote’s roughly 200-year heritage of pottery and clay-pipe production — Sharpe’s Pottery dates to 1821 — industries that helped modernise British sanitation.
Residents can also join workshops led by professional artists on sustainable making and the National Forest environment. The events aim to boost community connection, create a more vibrant town centre, and give local makers a platform to sell and showcase their work.
