Fabrications 2017, was a pilot for British Textile Biennial and the UK’s first festival celebrating and exploring textiles and the textile industry through the eyes of artists.

Fabrications allowed us to test the idea of working with contemporary artists to explore our local textile heritage and local communities connection with textile production, within galleries, museums and former textile mills across Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle. Fabrications was enjoyed by over 16,000 people, who attended over 30 events hosted in 15 venues across Pennine Lancashire and whose feedback and enthusiasm for the programme and its basis gave us the confidence to progress with launching the British Textile Biennial in 2019.

Highlights included exhibitions from Serena Partridge, Debbie Smyth and Grennan and Sperandio, a beautiful installation in the Cotton Exchange, Blackburn from Bella May Leonard, a craft fair hosted by Selvedge magazine at Pendle Heritage Centre and major art installations and performances including the premiere of Suzanne Lacy’s film The Circle & the Square, produced with the people of Pendle and a unique performance experience World Factory by METIS.