Museum of Making

Official Derby Walk Ahead of you you’ll see the brand-new Museum of Making, showcasing the region’s 300-year history of making, celebrating its rich history of innovation. This museum, built by the people and industries of Derby, will inspire visitors to unleash their creativity and start making. Head down towards it’s iconic 18th century Bakewell gates. The museum is aptly housed in the Derby Silk Mill which is widely regarded as the site of the world’s first modern factory. In 1717, Derby was the site of the / first water-powered silk mill in Britain built by John Lombe and George Sorocold.

Elle Look out over the vast paved space towards the bridge. Can you see a sparkle? Someone’s peppered some glittery bricks in here. I like to think it was someone like us. Leaving messages for each other, a trail of sparkly hope. I think they’re like little moments of joy, popping out at us. Twinkling with possibility. If you stand back from them, all the different colours make different shapes. They look connected, like constellations. You could make your own path from one to the next, choose which way you go. Go on, make your pathway amongst them, connect them. Make your way towards the bridge but join the dots, make your own constellation, leave a trail of sparkly hope.

See, we’re making choices, a series of small decisions that eventually get us somewhere. If you stand back from it you can see it for what it really is. Sometimes you have to stand away from something to see the bigger picture. And realise that it’s about more than just me and you. And that’s what I’m having to do, take a step back.

Take the path to the right of the bridge past the graffiti and walk along the river. I made some music for the next bit, just some thinking time really, a chance to take it all in and think about the bigger picture.