BLACKBURN has been chosen as the launch venue for a major national celebration of manufacturing, arts and crafts.

It will host the opening events of the first “Festival of Making” in October next year.

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Residents of Blackburn with Darwen will be able to get a taste of the attractions on offer at a taster day next month.

Borough regeneration boss and Rovers fan Phil Riley said: “With the motto, Arte et Labore (By Skill and Hard Work), Blackburn is the natural place to launch Britain’s first National Festival of Making.”

The event, next October, will celebrate the wealth of local creative artists and makers in and around the borough.

To give festival-goers a taste of what’s in store there will be a taster day for the Festival of Making next month on Saturday, September 12 from10am until 8pm.

On Museum Street there will be a pop-up Festival Pavilion that will house the “Fixperts”, fresh from an exhibition at London’s Victorian and Albert Museum.

Upcycling workshops by Blackburn artists’ collective Gypsy Carrot and a café with a conscience called “Disco Soupe” organised by Blackburn social enterprise Food Lab turning otherwise wasted food into tasty meals.

The town centre will come alive to the sound of Blackburn’s buskers.

Cllr Riley, said: “Throughout our history, making things has been at the heart of life in Blackburn and Darwen and this festival will be an exciting event for our Borough.

“I urge people to come to the taster day and get involved in ensuring next years’ event is a success.”

DJ Dave Haslam will be talking about his new book, Life After Dark, at King George’s Hall on Friday September 11.

Creative director of Blackburn is Open and internationally famous designer Wayne Hemingway said: “With twice the national average of people working in making and manufacturing, it is in the people of Blackburn’s blood.

“The town is rightly laying claim to being at the centre of Britain’s manufacturing revival and will host the annual National Festival of Making.”