WOVEN Festival, Kirklees

Celebrating Textile Heritage and Innovation

WOVEN, the biennial festival dedicated to Kirklees’ rich textile heritage and future innovations, will run from 1 to 30 June 2025. First established in 2019, WOVEN brings together communities, artists, and businesses to highlight the region’s historic and contemporary contributions to textiles.

Theme for 2025: Connecting Culture

This year’s theme, Connecting Culture, focuses on uniting communities through the shared language of textiles. The 2025 festival will feature over 100 events, including:

• Exhibitions showcasing local and international textile art
• Workshops teaching both traditional and innovative techniques
• Talks and tours exploring Kirklees’ textile heritage
• Community projects fostering connections across cultural backgrounds

Featured Event: The Red Dress

One of the festival highlights is The Red Dress, a globally-recognised collaborative embroidery project created by British artist Kirstie Macleod. The dress, which now features contributions from over 300 embroiderers across 51 countries, will be on display at Oakwell Hall.

Described by Macleod as a project that “seeks to remove borders and boundaries,” The Red Dress embodies themes of equality, empowerment, and cultural connection. The embroiderers include survivors of war, refugees, and artists from diverse backgrounds, each sharing their unique stories through intricate stitching.

Call for Community Involvement

WOVEN 2025 invites community groups, organisations, and artists to propose events for inclusion in the festival programme. Micro-grants will be available through Growing Great Places to support textile-related projects. Additionally, the festival team will provide advice on project ideas, delivery, and marketing.

Free and Ticketed Events

The festival offers a mix of free and ticketed events across Kirklees. Visitors can expect:

• Engaging exhibitions
• Hands-on workshops
• Insightful talks and tours
• Collaborative community projects

WOVEN will collaborate with local libraries, museums, charities, and businesses to create a truly inclusive programme.

Statements from Key Figures

“WOVEN 2025 promises to be our most inclusive and diverse festival to date. We’re excited to empower and connect communities through the universal language of textiles.”

– Natalie Walton, WOVEN Curator

“The council is committed to threading more artistic and creative opportunities throughout our towns and villages, showcasing the diverse stories and rich history of Kirklees.”

– Councillor Carole Pattison, Kirklees Council