The British Textile Biennial 2019

BRITISH TEXTILE BIENNIAL 2019

The first British Textile Biennial throws a spotlight on the nation’s creativity, innovation and expression in textiles against the backdrop of the impressive infrastructure of the cotton industry in Pennine Lancashire.

Throughout October 2019 we look at fabric as a means of expression; exploring textiles as a vehicle for protest and cultural identity in installations, performances and art works that take a dynamic look at our relationship with that most basic and ancient of human creations, cloth.

With its epic mills and grandiose civic architecture along the country’s longest waterway, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the landscape tells the story of textiles. This biennial festival celebrates that story while showcasing its contemporary expression with the community that has textiles in its DNA.

In 2019, we look at fabric as a means of expression; showing textiles as a vehicle for protest and cultural identity in slogan-emblazoned Tshirts, football fashion and traditional union and demo banners, and presenting performances and new works that take a dynamic look at our relationship with that most basic and ancient of human creations, cloth.

Supported by local design heroes and manufacturers with national and international reputations, the month will include exciting new product launches and industry panels.

BTB invites artists, designers and makers to present performances, artworks and events across Pennine Lancashire; from Blackburn Cotton Exchange to Brierfield Mill in Pendle, from Mr. Gatty’s Experimental Dye Shed in Accrington to the world-class textile collection at Gawthorpe Hall in Burnley.

britishtextilebiennial.co.uk