Swindon town centre visitors are being kept in stitches this July, as a retail unit at The Brunel has been taken over by the popular Threads Textile Festival.
Sue Bardwell, left, of Artsite, with one of the festival helpers
Launched on Saturday, July 11 and running until Saturday, July 25, The Brunel Swindon has provided a venue for the fortnight-long celebration, which aims to bring the local community together through the versatile medium of textile art.
This year's vibrant hub of exhibitions and workshops will be located at 19 Canal Walk (next to McDonald's).
A spokesperson for The Brunel Swindon said: “We are absolutely delighted to host the Threads Textile Festival this year and to provide a space where local creativity can truly flourish. The Brunel sits at the heart of our community, so it’s fitting to welcome an event that is all about weaving people together through art and shared experiences.
"The ‘Threads of Empowerment’ theme is incredibly powerful, and we can’t wait to see our unit in Canal Walk transformed into a vibrant hub of inspiration, workshops, and incredible local talent.”
Centred around the theme of ‘Threads of Empowerment’, the festival is organised by creative charity Artsite alongside Swindon Stitch Social and the Big Knit to showcase the very best of regional textile talent.
Visitors can look forward to a diverse programme crafted to inspire throughout the two-week event.
A major highlight on display for the duration of the festival is the 'I Am Woman' Project, a 2D life-sized patchwork woman created by textile artist Holly Searle, also known as The Subversive Stitcher.
The festival schedule also features an empowerment-themed patchwork talk and hands-on workshop, exploring this popular craft and its connection to personal storytelling.
The fortnight then culminates in a market on Saturday, 25 July, showcasing the work of local textile groups and independent artists, with stalls selling everything from hand-spun yarns to unique, handcrafted items. The Brunel will also be hosting its Monthly Makers Market inside the Shopping Centre, on the ground floor near Boots on the same day. If you are interested in joining the Makers Market, contact the Brunel team at [email protected].
The Threads Textile Festival comes hot on the heels of the Swindon Arts Fringe Festival, which was also hosted by The Brunel. This back-to-back summer scheduling cements The Brunel Swindon’s reputation as a champion for the town, as well as the place to go for a wide range of both independent stores and national brands, and numerous eateries.
To find out more, visit https://www.swindonartsfringe.co.uk/ of follow ThreadsFestSwindon on Instagram.
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