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NEW PROGRAMME 2020-2021:
Our new programme is now available - click here to see what is on offer 
Your money helps a major museum project
An extract from Ruth Battersby Tooke's report to the AGM on the conservation plans for an important tapestry paid for by C&TA members. The C&TA have agreed to finance conservation work to enable the display of a panel from the extraordinary Bellerophon Tapestries in the forthcoming British Museum Partnership Medieval Gallery as part of the redevelopment of Norwich Castle’s Norman Keep. Progress this year has focussed on an extensive assessment with tapestry expert Kysnia Marko to devise a treatment plan. In the first phase C&TA funds have already paid for photography which will provide digital access to the tapestries remotely and in the redeveloped gallery enabling the whole story of the myth of Bellerophon to be told while only one is on display, and showing close-up details and giving an insight into the conservation process. The rest of grant will be used to carry out a minimal conservation treatment so we can show one panel for two years. This initial conservation treatment will consist of surface-cleaning the tapestry, removing cotton webbing applied in the 1970s and replacing with a new galloon (a strip around the edge) and giving the panel a new lining and Velcro support to suspend it with. While the tapestry is on display, we will launch a fundraising project to fully conserve all five panels, including wet cleaning at a specialist facility with a complete realignment of the weave structure to correct distortion and consolidation of weak areas to provide support for another century. Read Ruth's full report here (Download Word document) 
A coronaquilt get together
It's finally under way! Your fabulous squares were brought together and laid out by a small group of C&TA committee members, following the Covid guidelines at the time. It has been measured, and now backing material etc is being ordered so that it can be put together for display. (Again, this will be done according to whatever Covid regulations are in force at the time!) If you have made a square and not sent it to us, please do so ASAP, because you may miss out on the final stitching. The deadline is October 30. Details are on the Coronaquilt page. Thanks for all your contributions! 
What have YOU been up to during the lockdown?
We are asking you to send us pictures and news about what you are up to during these difficult days and weeks. We have some interesting ideas which we will post here, on Facebook and our other social media sites. The latest are Jean Smith's mystery embroidery and Barbara Ayers' quarantine quilt. Visit the 'My Project' page to see the work. 
A few of our favourite things...
Here is your chance to share your favourite textile-related object or objects with other website visitors. We start with two very different items - a beautifully stitched table/screen and an African raffia embroidery. Read more about My Favourite... 
Shawl expert Helen on video
We are delighted to be able to bring you three excerpts from a major film project, which recorded some of the knowledge, expertise - and sheer enthusiasm - of our vice-president, Helen Hoyte. Helen talks about the beginnings of the Norwich shawl industry, about the precious dye, Norwich red, and about the woman who launched the C&TA, Pamela Clabburn. View videos of Helen Hoyte Find out more about Pamela Clabburn |
The Costume & Textile Association is an independent charity seeking to promote the unique costume and textile collection of the Norfolk Museums Service.
Norwich is a fine city whose heritage owes much to the textile industry which brought wealth to the city between the twelfth and eighteenth centuries. The legacy can still be enjoyed today: Norwich is still enriched by the different styles, culture, architecture and language that can be traced back to the ‘Strangers’ who came from the Low Countries to work in the textile industry. The Costume and Textile Association (C&TA) is a lively organisation bringing together people who are keen to support and learn more about the history and development of costume and textiles. Find out more about us, and read our mission statement, constitution and data protection policy. The C&TA works to raise money for the museums service, but is independent of it. Over the last three decades Costume and Textile Association members have contributed more than £100,000 to enable the Norfolk Museums Service to extend and improve its costume and textile collection. Find out more about our donations OUR NEWSLETTER We are keeping in touch with both members and interested non-members through our e-newsletters. To find out more, and sign up, visit our email newsletter page. NEW: CASTLE MUSEUM VIDEOS There are some fascinating YouTube talks and videos on the new Norwich Castle YouTube page - including Stephen Fry on the Castle project and Talking Objects, a series of treasures from the collection. The first object is a beautiful and rare example of Romanesque ivory carving found during an excavation at Norwich Castle itself. Find out more on the Castle YouTube page NEW - ARCTIC TREASURES What 10 things would you need to live in the Arctic? Warm boots, beaded snow goggles, an ivory needlecase... Lovely pictures on the British Museum blog. NIGHTWEAR: Show a little love to the humble pyjamas, and share some of their history. Fashion and Textile Museum article. DON'T MISS: The exhibition catalogue slideshow of our 2016 exhibition, Past Glory, Present Inspiration. View it here. |
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