A multicultural group in East Oxford is encouraging textile enthusiasts from Oxford’s diverse cultures and communities to share their passion and creativity.

Textiles for All (previously known as Textiles for Peace) was formed in 2003 to explore different textile traditions and to learn new textile skills. The group’s aim is to produce beautiful textiles, but they also want to get to know each other through the tradition of women sewing together whilst enjoying each other’s company. The group meets on Sundays at Fusion Arts, which is behind the East Oxford Community Centre on the corner of Cowley Road and Princes Street. The Autumn term of weekly workshops continues every Sunday between 3pm and 5.30pm until 9 December. Workshops are free but if you attend for more than one session there is a term’s membership subscription of just £5 (£3 concession).

The small group of textile enthusiasts work on developing their skills by focusing on their own projects or group projects, sharing the diverse talents of the members. All are welcome to join in, including complete beginners. The group runs Skills Workshops during which a group member will demonstrate and teach their specialist skill, such as felt making, silk painting and batik, hand and machine embroidery, appliqué and transfer printing.

Textiles For All is working towards holding an exhibition in 2013 on ‘Stitching Stories of Change and Transformation’. This theme is open to very broad interpretation, and help and discussion with ideas is always forthcoming. This will be the fifth exhibition held by the group. The textile enthusiasts first created the Peace Tent which has been exhibited many times, often at the Cowley Road Carnival. Next came a doll exhibition called ‘St Georgina and the Corporate Dragon’ and was part of Oxford Inspires’ ‘Multiplicity’ exhibition at Ovada in 2005. The ‘Common Threads’ patchwork panels was a project linked with ‘Out of Africa’ for the 2007 celebration of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, and was exhibited at the Ashmolean and a number of other venues. In February 2012 ‘Chronicles in Cloth’ — a collection of textile books, panels and dolls — was exhibited at the Oxford Central Library.

If you would like to find out more just drop in to a Sunday session. Or call Judy Hammond 01865 245178 or Jane Buckley 01865 241892 for more information. Visit www.ocva.org.uk/textilesforall to view some of the group’s work.

  • If you want to contribute to this column contact Sarah Beer at Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA) by email at voluntaryvoice@ocva.org.uk