‘Hertiage Threads’ at the Island Arts Centre

​We are delighted that this beautiful show is heading to the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn running in both galleries from the 29th April - 31st of May. We were lucky enough to see the first pop-up exhibition at Belfast School of Art last December and can testify that it includes some amazing interpretations and responses.

‘Herritage Threads’ showcases students' creative responses from Ulster University’s Belfast School of Art, inspired by a historic textile collection donated by the Wilson family. Through various mediums and innovative approaches, the exhibition brings to life the rich tapestry of the past as students reinterpret traditional textile techniques and narratives for a contemporary audience.

The show offers an intimate exploration of how history, memory, and craftsmanship intertwine. It presents a dialogue between a family’s cherished textile heritage and the vibrant new works it has inspired. Each piece showcases the students’ connection to textiles' cultural and artistic importance while honouring the tradition of collecting and preserving cloth within families.

Celebrating the continued relevance of textile art and design, and bridging generations in a compelling tribute to heritage, creativity, and community, this exhibition invites you to connect with the past and present. Students’ creations are complemented by work of the staff of the Textile Art, Design and Fashion course at Ulster University’s Belfast School of Art, including Hazel Bruce, Anna Duffy and Lyndsey MacDougall.

There will be an official closing of the works on Saturday 31 May, 2 - 4pm - we are looking forward to catching up with some of the designers and makers then for more details.

Below are a few snaps we took at back in December but David Copland (credit for the thumbnail image) took much better ones and a few can be seen on the TADF instagram here.