Join us on Friday 16 May 2025 to celebrate the opening of our newest exhibition: Soft Power, lives told though textile art. Created in collaboration with pioneering textile artist Alice Kettle and curator Lesley Millar, we are bringing work by many international contemporary textile artists displayed in dialogue with historical pieces.  All artworks tell extraordinary stories and celebrate exceptional craftsmanship, while speaking to everyday relatable themes: community, family, love, loss, identity and memory.  

On this evening, we also celebrate Connecting Threads, featuring Fiona Robinson PRWA, Malcolm Ashman RWA RBA, Lawrence Nash RWA, Vera Boele-Keimer RWA, as well as Handstitched Heritage, work created by professional hand embroidery artists.  

Complementing this exhibition we are collaborating with Bristol Refugee Artists Collective (BRAC) and Dorcas Dress Project (DDP) to deliver a series of free-to-access workshops with Refugees across Bristol. In these creative workshops participants will co-create a textile installation that will feature alongside an interactive installation exploring empowerment through textiles that will feature in the Link Space, on our lower ground floors. 
 
Private view: Friday 16 May, 18:00pm - 20:00pm (speeches 18:45 pm)
Exhibition dates: 17 May - 10 August 2025 

Capacity in our galleries is limited so please RSVP to confirm your attendance. Invitations include a +1

If you have any access requirements or would like to reserve our accessible parking space, please contact info@rwa.org.uk!