'The Art of the Banner' Explores Textiles as a Form of Protest

A creative exploration of conflict textiles around the world and protest banners in Northern Ireland.

Join us as we explore the art of the banner. This series of creative workshops will explore the skills involved in creating a protest banner, the messages they convey and how the protest banner is as relevant today as it was for our past generations.

You will also get the chance to create your own ‘conflict textile’ and have it featured on the Making the Future websites and the CAIN Conflict Archive. 

This programme is open to all abilities, and would be ideal for anyone wanting to find out more about statement protest and trade union banners, or with an interest in NI politics. Prior experience of working with textiles isn't required, although a basic level of knowledge would be beneficial.

Here's how it will work:

• International curator Roberta Bacic, founder of Conflict Textiles, will lead you through the collection, which focuses and addresses elements of human rights abuses around the world
• 'UK's Top Tour Guide 2019' Paul Donnelly from Dead Centre Tours will help us explore the art of the Orange Order, Hibernian and Trade Union banners in Northern Ireland.
• With the support and guidance of textile artist Deborah Stockdale, we will create our own Conflict Textiles using found materials from the home – wool, thread, fabric scraps, buttons or whatever else we can scavenge during lockdown!
• Participants can engage with each other through the Zoom sessions and a dedicated Slack channel, where you can share your work with others

This programme will be delivered online via Zoom. Sessions are at 10.30am on each of the following dates: Tuesday 9th, Thursday11th, Tuesday 16th, Thursday 18th and Tuesday 23rd February.

This programme is FREE and open to anyone aged over 16 based in Northern Ireland or border counties. In order to take part you must be able to commit to all of the programme sessions.

Numbers are limited so sign up early to avoid disappointment.

For more details, please contact Lesley Cherry: l.cherry@linenhall.com

Making the Future and its project partners would like to share information and imagery from the programme through social media to highlight ongoing progress and to showcase the good work. This may involve sharing screenshots of online meetings and examples of the content being created. Any content shared will be credited to its creator. By signing up to this programme you consent to content being shared on social media.