Stroud International Textiles: an astonishing festival

From 30th April to 22nd May the festival returns and seems to get bigger and better each year - last year was wonderful - I didn't get to as much as I would have liked - this year I will plan better! It is great to see this happening particularly as the festival faced an uncertain time in the summer re funding. It has been sad to see how arts have been hit this last week with the massive cuts to funding.

From traditional to contemporary plus artists from Holland, Japan, France and more.  The programme is almost overwhelming - a book in itself that I've already started to try and get to grips with - you can see more at their website: www.stroudinternationaltextiles.org.uk/

The festival has some quite wonderful exhibitions, talks and more plus work with the colleges - and for the first(?) time a studio trail like the open art studios that happen later in the year. I have to say the trail book has some wonderful photos by Alexander Caminada who also has an exhibition at the Ecotricity building in Russell Street of his photos during the festival.

This week I was in Cirencester briefly and managed to get half an hour in the New Brewery Arts  - there was an exhibition by Sarah Brooker - some wonderful feltmaking - a couple of examples in the photos here - well she along with others at the New Brewery Arts and others in the Stroud Valleys will be opening their studios as part of that Textile Trail on the weekend 7th and 8th May.