Craft Focus - Apr/May (Issue 72)

26 The Festival of Quilts has announced a major re-brand for its Fine Art Quilt Master competition. The category has traditionally been a celebration of quilts that transcend craft and demand equal billing with gallery-quality fine art. This year and going forward the contest will become the Vlieseline Fine Art Textiles Award. The £5,000 prize will be open to all amateur and practising artists using textiles as their medium and the winning entry will be exhibited at The Knitting & Stitching Shows in London and Harrogate in autumn 2019. “There are many textile artists who are currently excluded from entering the Fine Art Quilt Master category because they don’t consider themselves to be quilters, even though they are creating multi-layered artworks,” says Anna Baptiste, event director. “The new Fine Art Textile Award will recognise the creative talents and skills of a broader community of high- calibre artists and will celebrate textiles’ rightful place amongst high art.” Entries must be considered as fine art worthy of gallery space with cloth and thread used as pivotal materials. Both 2D and 3D works are welcome. Entrants must submit digital images of their work by 26 th April and finished pieces by 17 th May. The Festival of Quilts will take place from 1 st -4 th August 2019 at the NEC, Birmingham. Go to thefestivalofquilts.co.uk for more information. Consumer show news CREATIVE CRAFT SHOW SET FOR BUMPER SUMMER Taking place from 28 th -30 th June at the NEC Birmingham, the summer edition of the Creative Craft Show promises to be a one-stop shop for fans of knitting, cross stitch, papercraft, jewellery, dressmaking and stitching. In addition to stalls filled with brand-new products, tools and accessories, the show will feature a full programme of Makes and Takes. Visitors will be able to join Pixelhobby UK to create a fridge magnet or keyring, while the Festival of Japan will teach crafters the basics of the Sashiko sewing technique. Ticket prices start at £10. Visit stitchandhobby.co.uk to make a booking. Major rebrand for Festival of Quilts competition