New Client: Derbyshire Makes & Derbyshire Makes History

We’re thrilled to be partnering with Derbyshire Makes and Derbyshire Makes History — two interlinked programmes that celebrate and strengthen Derbyshire’s proud tradition of making, from past to present.

A county built by makers

Derbyshire has always been a place of ingenuity. From Cromford’s water-powered mills to the industrial heart of the Derwent Valley, this landscape is woven with stories of craftsmanship, materials, and communities shaping each other. You can read more here.

Derbyshire Makes is a three-year cultural programme supporting creative expression and community making across the county.

In parallel, Derbyshire Makes History is a two-year heritage-led initiative, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, that digs deeper into the industrial legacies of textiles, ceramics, mining and more.

Together, the programmes aim to connect past and present: giving space for both innovation and inheritance, fresh voices and rooted traditions.

What we’ll be doing

We come in as evaluators (aka “we’ll figure it out for you”) — supporting both programmes to learn, adapt and amplify impact.

• Designing a learning framework that marries creative outcomes with heritage goals
• Tracking outputs & outcomes (community participation, skills development, audience reach)
• Gathering stories & voices from makers, volunteers, heritage organisations and local people
• Reflecting on “what works where” — drawing out lessons for future creative-heritage programmes
• Supporting evaluation capacity in local partners, so the learning doesn’t stay just with us

Our aim is to keep evaluation light, meaningful and usable — never ivory-tower, always in service of place, people, creativity.

A lens of reciprocity

What excites us most is the chance to help the programme stay curious, responsive and anchored in Derbyshire’s communities. With heritage and creativity in conversation, there’s real potential to:

• revive crafts and materials that risk being lost
• spark new making practices in places with fewer arts resources
• foster pride in place and intergenerational connection
• build sustainability: for organisations, for makers, and for heritage

We’ll be listening a lot — but also helping the programmes iterate, pivot and grow in line with what’s emerging on the ground.

What this means for Derbyshire

Over time, the evaluation will help tell a fuller story: how creative making and heritage can reinforce each other; where to target investment; and how to ensure accessibility, equity and resonance across Derbyshire’s diverse towns and communities.

We’re honoured to be on this journey. If you’re a heritage group, maker, community organiser or just curious — we’d love to hear your voice as the programmes unfold.

📧 info@theevaluator.co.uk | 📞 01756 532 538