Image: Loom at Cloth Collaborative
About
Gather 2025 is a month-long exploration of fiber and textile art in Greater Boston. We invite interested individuals and organizations to become a collaborating partner by hosting their own event and exhibition. Guidelines are detailed below; please reach out with any questions or to learn more on becoming involved.
Statement of Purpose
To design, develop, and deliver a month-long series of events under a unified umbrella documenting, interrogating, and presenting the vibrancy, breadth, and challenges of fiber and textile arts in Greater Boston.
Description
This event may include programs such as: presentation of research and/or case studies, events engaging audiences with concurrent related exhibitions, lectures, hands-on participatory events, curatorial and artist presentations. Each program will be hosted by a partnering organization. Keynote and culminating events will launch and conclude Gather 2025.
The events will be marketed together as well as individually by each institution and listed on a central website. We encourage cross-audience participation. (For examples of relevant collaborative fiber art events see New York City’s September textile month and Portland Oregon Textile Month).
Goals
Our goals are to:
Build, strengthen, and promote the exciting, valid, and important genre of fiber and textile art within the context of the wider world of contemporary art
Explore contemporary challenges within the genre such as the lasting impact of colonialism, cultural appropriation, underrecognized achievements, and equity, diversity, and inclusion
Identify and showcase research, artwork, exhibitions, and textile collections that exhibit rigor and excellence in fiber and textile art
Further awareness and understanding of the breadth of fiber and textile arts in the Greater Boston Area
Develop, enhance, and broaden our collegial network and shared audiences.
Content Programming
Partners are encouraged to consider both presentations and hands-on experiences. Please consider the following inquiries as you plan your content:
What do we want/need to learn?
How do we address the art world and academic structures of value, access, and experience?
What is the role of storytelling and healing in fiber arts?
How do we broaden our tent of inclusion?