Supporting one of England's largest county-wide creative programmes through programme leadership, cultural programming, artist commissions, marketing, partnership development and creative evaluation to connect people, places and Derbyshire's heritage of making.

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Commission

Develop the strategic concept for a new county-wide cultural programme, support a successful Arts Council England Place Partnership funding bid, and deliver integrated programme management, creative production, marketing, communications and evaluation.

The opportunity

In 2023, Local was commissioned by Arts Derbyshire Derbyshire County Council to help develop the vision and programme framework for Derbyshire Makes - a new county-wide cultural programme celebrating Derbyshire's internationally significant heritage of making while investing in its creative future.

Working collaboratively with partners across the county, we helped shape the programme concept and supported the successful Arts Council England Place Partnership application, securing £780,000 towards a programme with a total value of £1.2 million.

Following the successful bid, Local was appointed through an open tender process to deliver the county-wide programme and its integrated marketing and communications contract. Since then, we have continued to work as a strategic delivery partner, helping Derbyshire Makes evolve from an ambitious funding proposal into one of England's largest place-based creative programmes.

What Local brought

Our work spans strategy, creative production, communications and evaluation, allowing us to connect ideas, people and organisations across the whole programme.

We work alongside Arts Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council, Derby Museums, district and borough councils, artists, makers, heritage organisations, creative businesses and community partners to develop projects that are both creatively ambitious and deeply rooted in place.

Our programme leadership has included:

• Developing and delivering flagship county-wide projects including Women Who Make, Dare to Dream, The Makory Tour (Years 1 and 2), MAKE Room (Year 1) and the Heritage Film Commissions.

• Commissioning and supporting artists, creatives and facilitators to develop new work with communities across Derbyshire.

• Building partnerships across culture, heritage, education, local government, tourism and business.

• Leading the programme's marketing and communications, including marketing strategy, PR, social media, website content, print, audience development campaigns and coordination with delivery partners across the county.

• Designing evaluation frameworks that capture learning, audience insight and programme impact, ensuring evidence informs future investment and programme development.

• Supporting fundraising, strategic planning and the long-term development of Derbyshire Makes beyond individual commissions and festivals.

This integrated approach is central to how Local works. Rather than treating programming, communications and evaluation as separate activities, we bring them together to create programmes that are collaborative, responsive and continually learning.

What changed

Over the past two years Derbyshire Makes has continued to grow in ambition, reach and impact.

The programme now delivers creative activity throughout the year, connecting communities with artists through festivals, workshops, exhibitions, talks, creative walks, commissions, heritage projects and public events.

Flagship programmes such as Women Who Make have grown into year-round initiatives that celebrate women's creativity through making, learning, heritage and leadership. In 2026 alone the programme engaged more than 1,260 participants, employed 44 creative and heritage practitioners and established a successful new partnership with the National Trust at Hardwick Hall, creating opportunities for future commissions and collaboration.

Across the wider Derbyshire Makes programme, audience engagement has continued to grow, generating more than 647,000 online interactions during the 2025–26 campaign, while audience surveys recorded an average enjoyment score of 4.8 out of 5.

Behind these figures are stronger partnerships, increased opportunities for artists, greater visibility for Derbyshire's creative and heritage sectors and a growing network of organisations working together to tell the county's story through creativity.

Why it matters

For Local, Derbyshire Makes demonstrates the power of creativity to strengthen places when programming, partnerships, communications and learning are brought together around a shared vision.

The programme is helping to strengthen Derbyshire's creative and cultural sector by creating opportunities for artists and creative businesses, developing new partnerships across culture, heritage and local government, and building confidence for future investment. At the same time, it is activating high streets, heritage sites and public spaces through ambitious cultural programming, celebrating Derbyshire's remarkable history of innovation and making, and creating opportunities for people to connect with one another through art, heritage and creativity.

Our integrated approach means we don't see strategy, delivery, marketing and evaluation as separate commissions. Each informs the next, creating programmes that are collaborative, evidence-led and designed to grow over time. By listening, testing ideas, responding to learning and working alongside partners, we help build cultural programmes that leave lasting social, cultural and economic value long after individual events have finished.

Project Highlights‍

• 2-year strategic delivery partner

• 5 flagship county-wide programmes led

• 647,000+ online audience reached

• 1,260+ Women Who Make participants

• 44 artists & heritage practitioners employed

• 4.8/5 average audience satisfaction

• Partnerships spanning culture, heritage, local government, tourism and business

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Here is the link to the Derbyshire Makes website.

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