Established and supported by renowned designer, Wayne Hemingway, the first ever National Festival of Making took place in Blackburn, Lancashire in May 2017. Perspective Communications provided the festival team – including festival producers, Deco Publique and creative placemaking enterprise, Placeshakers – with full communications direction across strategic planning, multi-stakeholder communications, marketing, digital communications and media relations.
With the aim of attracting 20,000 visitors, an effective campaign in which the full support of the community and partner organisations was engaged to spread the word, including Blackburn with Darwen Council, an attendance in excess of 30,000 people was achieved. Working with the BBC Arts Unit, a partnership with BBC North was leveraged to secure a live broadcast with BBC Breakfast, coverage on BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, BBC North West Tonight, BBC Asian Network and over 30 slots on BBC Radio Lancashire. Additonal, national and international coverage appeared in The Guardian, Designboom and Design Week.
