2006/7 > CONTEXT AND COLLABORATION
A series of seminars exploring approaches to contemporary textiles through collaborative initiatives between museums, higher education institutions and practitioners.
The seminars were held at Manchester City Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, University College for the Creative Arts and Royal College of Art, as a collaborative project, for curators, academics and practitioners. Participants discussed the role of museums, higher education institutions and professional practitioners in developing a framework for identifying needs and determining strategies for collaboration across and between sectors.
What we wanted to do
Explore approaches to contemporary textiles through collaborative research between Museums, HEI’s and Practitioners. This to be achieved through an ambitious series of seminars, to be held across the U.K. for curators, academics and practitioners. Participants will discuss the role of museums, galleries and HEI’s in developing a framework for identifying needs and determining strategies for collaboration across and between sectors. The seminars take place against the background of ongoing discourse within craft and design concerning context and language.
The seminars were intended to develop collaborative strategies between HEI’s, museums and practitioners, which enable the presentation or prioritisation of contemporary textile exhibitions. Dialogue and interaction between sectors enable a growing understanding of the issues involved thus broadening audiences and creating the foundation for further research.
What we achieved
4 seminars held at Manchester Art Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum London, UCA Epsom, Royal College of Art London (as an event supporting 'Collect). The Seminars were very well attended with delegates representing all the identified interest groups, plus representatives from the major funding organisations. A moderated website was put in place to encourage participation. The Seminars and website generated a great deal of material to sift through and draw together, ranging from the highly aspirational to the grounded pragmatic. A set of practical strategies were identified which were the first steps towards achieving those aspirational goals. The full report was published on the project website, the AHRC (funders) website and the V&A website.
The exhibition Lost in Lace and the Transition and Influence Web Gallery are direct outcomes of the seminars.
175 delegates attended the seminars.
