The Festival of Quilts announces 2016 workshop programme this month

The Festival of Quilts is Europe’s leading patchwork and quilting show and tickets go on sale in April.  Taking place from 1th-14th August 2016 at the NEC Birmingham, The Festival attracts 24,000 visitors from across the world, with over 1000 quilts by talented makers on display.  Competition categories from My First Quilt to Fine Art Quilt Masters ensure there’s something to inspire everyone.

Extraordinary workmanship takes centre stage at The Festival.  In the professionally-curated galleries, visitors can view exquisite textile art by acclaimed international artists Claire Benn, Kaffe Fassett, Brigitte Morgenroth, Ingrid Press, Pam Stallebrass and Cécile Trentini.  Groups of artists featured include Art Textiles: Made in Britain, the Dharavi Biennale, European Quilt Association, Quilts from Korea & Japan, the Magna Carta Quilt Association, Quinary, Studio Art Quilt Associates, The Quilters' Guild of The British Isles, quilts from Russia, the Traditional Quilters' Guild and the Yorkshire Quilters' Guild.
 
Other must-do events include:  

• Shopping - from over 300 specialist patchwork and quilting suppliers. Stock up on the best fabric, threads, notions, patterns and more;
• An extensive masterclass and workshop programme - including CPD-certified content, for beginners to advanced quilters;
• The Festival Theatre in association with Create and Craft - hosting the Fashion Show, Awards Ceremony and demonstrations by leading experts;
• After-hours social events - including The Festival Dinner, The Designer Supper with Kaffe Fassett and a theatre visit to see Hamlet; 
• The Virtual Studio - a live wet studio environment with artists working in-situ with dyes, colour removing agents, acrylics, rusting processes and other media;
• Game of Quilts - a new-for-2016 feature in which teams of visitors rise to the challenge to make a quilt from scratch during the festival. 
  

Tickets for The Festival of Quilts go on sale on 11th April 2016 (4th April for members of The Quilters’ Guild) and cost £14.50 in advance (concessions £13.50).  A wide selection of options are available from www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk or by calling 0844 581 1289.