Holburne Up Late with EMERGE Studios

Curated by Emerge Studio residents Lily Serendipity and Lola Bennett, Soft Rebellion is a bold new exhibition that invites visitors to question where craft ends and fine art begins.

This exhibition introduces a radical softness – one threaded through embroidery, quilting, weaving, and textile sculpture, engaging in a tactile dialogue with the Holburne’s permanent collection. Drawing on heritage crafts traditionally seen as domestic or decorative, Soft Rebellion repositions contemporary textile art as a site of conceptual depth, cultural commentary, and creative rebellion.

EMERGE is a creative incubator, designed to help emerging talent through giving vital space, training, and meaningful support at a pivotal time within an artist’s career pathway, bridging the gap between university and the professional world.

Sashiko Stitching Workshop (5.15pm  – Booking Required / limited space) 
Sashiko is a Japanese stitching technique used to mend, reinforce, and embellish fabric. In this free workshop, led by experienced artist and teacher Wendy Thomas, you will learn the basics of Sashiko stitching and take home your own Sashiko-stitched fabric patch. The word sashiko translates to “little stabs,” referring to the stitching technique.
Book Here 

Handbound Brush Making Workshop (6.45pm  – Booking Required / limited space)
Led by experienced brush maker Ian Parkes, this free workshop allows participants to craft a handbound brush made from natural fibre and cotton yarn. This is a chance to enjoy the meditative and repetitive practice of traditional craft, and to come away with your own soft, sculptural tool – one that blurs the line between function and art.
Book Here