Regeneration
Brand new festival of creativity another step in town centre transformation
Published on
A brand-new festival of creativity and making is coming to Walsall this September and will provide a great boost for the local economy.
Walsall MakerFest will transform the town centre into a vibrant hub of creativity on Saturday 7 September, promising to bring communities together to celebrate and enjoy diverse talents from across the borough and wider region.
The festival, delivered by Walsall Council in partnership with local non-profit Urban Hax CIC, The New Art Gallery Walsall and Walsall Cultural Compact, aims to stimulate and celebrate the creative industries in Walsall, paving the way for local makers and creatives to form and grow their businesses in the borough.
As part of Walsall’s town centre regeneration, the listed Guildhall building will be renovated and turned into a Creative Industries Enterprise Centre, offering space, facilities and support for creative enterprises to form and grow.
“ Walsall is a hub of creativity and with the right facilities, there is real opportunity and scope to support and grow talent within the borough.
Town centres need to diversify and move away from retail, so nurturing our creative industries is really important.
We’ve worked hard to develop strong partnerships in the creative industries and we’re well equipped as a borough to nurture and grow those creative enterprises. Walsall MakerFest is a chance to showcase the diverse talents that we have here in Walsall and with plans for the Creative Industries Enterprise Centre in the Guildhall developing at pace, it’s a really exciting time for Walsall makers “
“ We are delighted to be working with Walsall Council to grow and celebrate creativity in Walsall. We work with lots of makers and creatives specialising in a wide and diverse range of crafts and creativity and it’s great to see so much investment and effort being put in to supporting those enterprises.
We’re looking forward to bringing The Guildhall back to life in the coming years and all the opportunities that those facilities will create “
Walsall MakerFest aims to build momentum in the creative industries ready for when the Guildhall will open its doors in 2026. That momentum will be maintained through the Arts Council-funded Creative Up-Start Programme (CUSP) which will provide support for 30 local creative enterprises to get them off to the best possible start to their creative career.
Makers from across the borough and wider Black Country will have the chance to showcase their wares in the Makers’ Market, with some local enterprises delivering hands-on workshops and demonstrations so visitors can get involved.
More information about Walsall MakerFest can be found on the council website
Find out more about the Guildhall Creative Industries Enterprise Centre
ENDS
Notes to editors
Walsall MakerFest is being delivered by Walsall Council in partnership with local non-profit Urban Hax CIC, The New Art Gallery Walsall and Walsall Cultural Compact. It has been supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)’s Cultural Development Fund: Round Three through Arts Council England.
Walsall is in the middle of a £1.5billion programme of transformation, having secured considerable investment and grant funding. Under the Walsall Town Deal and through additional Arts Council funding, Walsall Council is in the process of developing The Guildhall into The Creative Industries Enterprise Centre, which will be a vibrant hub of creativity in partnership with Urban Hax CIC.
Walsall MakerFest aims to spark the town’s creativity and build momentum for the opening of the new Creative Industries Enterprise Centre which will provide space and facilities for a number of creative businesses.
We are Walsall 2040 is the Council’s long-term plan to transform Walsall to be the most improved borough in the region, a vibrant place where people are proud to live and residents in all neighbourhoods have the same life chances.
Read more about the We are Walsall 2040 plan on the Council’s website: We are Walsall 2040 | Walsall Council
