22nd July – 29th October 2023, 11.00-18.00
Level 2, Arnolfini
Since 2020, Bridges for Communities and Arnolfini have enjoyed a growing sense of partnership and collaboration. Fuelled by a shared desire for this to be a welcoming and inclusive city, we have explored a whole range of ways in which arts and culture can bring people from different walks of life together, can enable them to work for positive change and can lead to the creation, together, of something beautiful.
We are now extremely proud to present Stitching Together – An Exhibition, created by Bridges for Communities and Arnolfini to celebrate and share our unique partnership, drawing out the special moments and projects that have helped the partnership to grow.
Created to accompany the Gallery’s major ‘Threads’ exhibition featuring 21 international artists and makers, this exhibition brings a particular focus on the beautiful textile creations and stories of women from across Bristol, including the work of Arnolfini’s regular Friday Women’s Craft Club and Bridges for Communities’ Stitching Together groups.
Bridges’ Stitching Together groups provide a welcoming space for refugee and asylum-seeking women in Bristol to be creative and make beautiful and useful textile based art, clothes, and homewares, while gaining confidence and making friends – sessions take place at Easton Family Centre at at our partner Borderlands. Arnolfini’s Craft Club is a weekly ‘craft and conversation’ group run in partnership with Bristol Refugee Festival and Bridges for Communities, where women from all backgrounds are welcome to come along, have a cup of tea, share skills and get crafty.
This free exhibition will be held across Arnolfini’s second floor – we do hope you are able to come and visit!