Threads Festival Returns to Brunel. Swindon town centre visitors are being kept in stitches this July as the popular Threads Textile Festival has taken over a retail unit at The Brunel centre.
Launched on Saturday, July 11 and running until Saturday, July 25, The Brunel Swindon is the venue for the fortnight-long celebration. It aims to bring the local community together through the versatile medium of textile art.
You’ll find this year’s vibrant hub of exhibitions and workshops at 19 Canal Walk (next to McDonald’s).
A spokesperson for The Brunel Swindon said: ‘We’re so delighted to host the Threads Textile Festival this year. And to provide a space where local creativity can flourish. The Brunel sits at the heart of our community. Thus it’s fitting to welcome an event that’s all about weaving people together through art and shared experiences.
A theme of empowerment
‘The ‘Threads of Empowerment’ theme is so 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.’
The creative charity Artsite, are the organisers of the festival, alongside Swindon Stitch Social and the Big Knit. Its purpose being 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.
Festival highlight
A major highlight on display for the duration of the festival is the ‘I Am Woman’ Project. That comprises 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. It’ll be 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. That’s on the ground floor near Boots on the same day. If you’re interested in joining the Makers Market, contact the Brunel team at info@thebrunel.co.uk.
The Threads Textile Festival comes hot on the heels of the Swindon Arts Fringe Festival, also hosted by The Brunel.
This back-to-back summer scheduling cements The Brunel Swindon’s reputation as a champion for the town. And as the place to go for a wide range of both independent stores and national brands, and many eateries.
To find out more, visit https://www.swindonartsfringe.co.uk/ of follow ThreadsFestSwindon on Instagram.
