Events Archive

Over the years the British Textile Biennial has produced and played host to a wide range of both live and online events, talks and performances. Below you can find a selection that we have filmed or recorded. From Conversations in Creativity to lectures, webinars and performances there is a wide range of content to enjoy.

Artist discussing their practice during a Conversation in Creativity event.

Events

British Council Delegation Roundtable

For BTB25, the British Council supported a delegation of seven artists, designers, and makers from across Southeast Asia.

29/10/25
The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery

Pioneers of the Material World - Panel Discussion & Private View

Conversations in Creativity

A panel discussion followed by a private view of the exhibition, Pioneers of the Material World.

 

24/10/25
Towneley Hall

Future Past Online Panel #2

Global Perspectives on Textile Art & Culture

An online panel which expanded on Future Past — the digital exhibition co-curated by the British Textile Biennial and Textile Culture Net.

23/10/25

Future Past Online Panel #1

Global Perspectives on Textile Art & Culture

An online panel which expanded on Future Past — the digital exhibition co-curated by the British Textile Biennial and Textile Culture Net.

20/10/25

The Future of Colour: Panel Discussion

Conversations in Creativity

This event took place in the iconic Ashton Memorial, the site of Margo Selby’s large-scale textile work Breathing Colour. Audiences were invited to join us and a panel of experts to explore the future of colour.

17/10/25
Ashton Memorial

Stars of CCTV: The Performative Male Football Hooliganism as Textile Heritage

Conversations in Creativity

A panel discussion that explored the unlikely intersections between the British Textile Biennial and the entangled histories of football hooliganism, textiles, fashion, design, and performance, and how these forces have shaped wider culture.

11/10/25
Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery

The Nature of Textiles: Keynote Address & Artist Talks

Conversations in Creativity

BTB were delighted to welcome author, activist and Fair Trade Fashion entrepreneur Carry Somers to give the keynote lecture to the 2025 programme.

03/10/25
The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery

The Synthetic Revolution and Eternal Seas: Artist and Curators’ Talks

Conversations in Creativity

An opening night event for two BTB25 exhibitions, The Synthetic Revolution and Eternal Seas.

02/10/25
Haworth Art Gallery

Lucy Orta Artist Talk

Conversations in Creativity

Artist Lucy Orta and BTB artistic director Laurie Peake hosted a walk around conversation exploring her exhibition, Homo Mondialis.

02/10/25
Blackburn Cathedral Crypt
Artists discussing their practice during a Conversation in Creativity event.

Textile Futures Roundtable

Conversations in Creativity

In these Roundtable sessions for British Textile Biennial moderated by Josie Warden, we explore more ethically and environmentally responsible ways of creating the textiles of the future with the help of some of the BTB23 artists from Africa and the UK.

27/10/2023
Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery
A detail shot of a Jacqueline Bishop ceramic plate.

The Decolonisation of Ceramics and Textiles

in collaboration with British Ceramics Biennial

The Decolonisation of Ceramics and Textiles online panel discussion was a British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) and British Textile Biennal (BTB) partner event. Curator and artist Basil Olton chaired this rich discussion with ceramics and textile artists Jacqueline Bishop, Theirry Oussou and Masimba Hwati.

25/10/2023
Dr Gus Casely-Hayford giving the opening lecture at BTB23

BTB23 Opening Keynote

by Dr Gus Casely-Hayford

Dr Gus Casely-Hayford, OBE, the founding Director of V&A East gave the opening lecture to BTB23.

29/09/2023
Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery
Larksong performance at Goodshaw Chapel during BTB23

Larksong Performance

Nick Jordan & Jacob Cartwright

Larksong: live music performance, expanded cinema projections, poetry reading and soundtrack album launch in Goodshaw Chapel.

07/10/2023
Goodshaw Chapel
Jasleen Kaur's Sociomobile inside The Exchange, Blackburn during BTB21

'The British Invasion' Panel Discussion

Textile & Place Conference

Over a six month period in 2021, the artists and curators of ‘The British Invasion’ were in dialogue allowing themselves time to consider all aspects of their individual practices and presentation of their work together.

27/10/2021
The Exchange
Close up detail of an Indian Mail Shawl

Lancashire Textile Gallery Launch

As part of BTB23 we hosted the launch of The Lancashire Textile Gallery.

24/10/2023

Colonial Impacts on Material Cultures of the Africa Diaspora

Conversations in Creativity

A Conversations in Creativity for British Textile Biennial featuring Cheyney McKnight, Elli Michaela Young & hosted by Teleica Kirkland.

28/10/2021

Making Matters x Levi's Digital with British Council

Conversations in Creativity

This Conversations in Creativity Talk for British Textile Biennial features Amber Butchart and guests from British Council, Levis, Envisions, Store Projects and more.

25/10/2021
Blackburn Cathedral Crypt

Breaking Down Borders - Movement & Migration Through Cloth

Conversations in Creativity

This Conversations in Creativity features Alice Kettle, Bharti Parmar, Raisa Kabir, Serkan Delice and host Amber Butchart.

25/10/2021
Blackburn Cathedral Crypt

Woke Denim Style, Protest & Self Expression

Conversations in Creativity

This extended round table event explores how denim and style more broadly features prominently in cultural and political movements for change throughout the twentieth century to the current.

26/10/2021
Blackburn Cathedral Crypt

Politics, Power & Production - The Global Impact of Denim

Conversations in Creativity

A Conversation in Creativity with Craig Oldham, Harris Elliott, Sophie Woodward, Tiwirayi Ndoro and host Amber Butchart.

26/10/2021
Blackburn Cathedral Crypt