Norfolk Makers Festival 2023 – Planning, progress and programme!

With the programme bigger and more varied than ever, we can’t wait for you to discover this collection of high-quality events, workshops and exhibitions.

Leaflets are out and about! We’ve shared just some of the highlights of the Festival with you in a mini brochure which you can pick up from The Forum, libraries and various venues around the county. Grab yours and pop some dates in your diary! Please note that all details are correct at time of printing and it’s best to check our website for the most up-to-date information closer to the time of the Festival… as we all know things change, such is life! For example, our “From Craft to Career” panel discussion, where you can hear from professional makers about their journeys, is now taking place on Wednesday 16 March.

Download the brochure, which shares some the Festival highlights, here.

It's all feeling real now that our panel of judges, the talented textile artists Annette Morgan, Sara Impey and Debbie Lyddon, have reviewed the entries for this year’s juried, curated exhibition responding to the theme “Bold Perspectives”.

This unique exhibition welcomes entries of all types of textile work, including weaving, spinning, knitting, crochet, quilting, embroidery, lacemaking, patchwork etc – so we can always expect an inspiring and eclectic exhibition. From amateur enthusiasts to professional artists living in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, all work is judged 'anonymously' and on its merits.

Entries have certainly been BOLD and judging was tough, so we’re very exciting to share the finished collection with you. A huge thank you to everyone who submitted their work this year.

A few words from the judges themselves…

“There was a huge range of techniques which was great to see, and also a wide range of subjects” Sara Impey

“The entries themselves were very diverse covering the remit of textiles… pieces demonstrated the skill of hand and machine embroidery, macrame, rug making, hat making and feltmaking, amongst others.”

“There seemed to be particular themes, mostly nature and landscape, which inspired the makers, but there was also humour.” Annette Morgan

If just the thought of the Festival has made you feel creative, you can make your own Dangerous Pocket or contribute your own panel for the ongoing Grenfell Memorial Quilt project. Both of which you can view at this year's Makers Festival. You can find out more from the links below.

There are also opportunities every day of the Festival to share your unwanted textiles and put them to good use – there are plenty of projects and people keen to re-cycle, re-use and mend.  

Those of you who have experienced a Norfolk Makers Festival before will know The Forum’s Atrium is packed with an eclectic mix of displays and creative activity and that every day is different. Explore the Festival website to find out when you can have a go at lacemaking, willow weaving, painting, quilling, quilting, spinning or even virtual reality painting. It’s all free to try!

There is also a programme of ticketed talks and focused workshops – watch this space for when we go live with tickets over the next few weeks – equally, sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear, as spaces are limited!