Posted by Rachel Westall on 3 June 2025
WOVEN 2025, the festival celebrating textiles and creativity across Kirklees, officially launched at Oakwell Hall, Birstall, this weekend with World Stitch Day, and even the rain didn’t dampen spirits. The festival kicked off unofficially on Sat 31st May with the installation of the internationally renowned Red Dress, a symbol of global collaboration and creativity led by artist Kirstie Macleod. The launch event marks the start of a month-long celebration of textiles, heritage and community spirit, with events taking place across Kirklees throughout June.
"I was blown away by everyone's comments about how the event brought people together," said WOVEN founder Natalie Walton, "everyone was really hopeful and excited about the community groups who'd come together through stitching and the Red Dress project to showcase their work in different cultures." She added, "The dress, and the story behind it, pulls people together in a moment of hope and joy and brightness in a world that can be quite divided." "Culture makes people's lives better. It boosts wellbeing, it brings communities together and it gives people pride in where they live," said Dan Jarvis, Relationship Manager, Audiences and Engagement at Arts Council England, "WOVEN does all of this. It tells the story of Kirklees, a place of deep heritage, creative spirit and community energy." "The WOVEN programme speaks to so many people and has become more and more community owned," Helen Pheby, Head of Culture, Heritage and Sport with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said, "The heritage of weaving and textiles is so rich in Kirklees and it's so important for young people to have line of sight of their heritage but also their futures and the possible careers that they may have."
To see the full WOVEN 2025 programme visit https://woveninkirklees.co.uk/events/
