The Fabric of Protest

Join this creative workshop for some stitching, chatting, and sharing inspired by the museum’s collections.

What you’ll get:

• Techniques taught by professional artist Helen Mather

• Specially designed resources to support learning and stitching

• All materials provided for your creations

Inspiration:

Using the museum’s 2025 Banner Exhibition as inspiration, this session will focus on the role of women self-organising inguilds, such as the Co-operative Women’s Guild. This guild was established in 1883 by working class women in the movement to provide representation and spread co-operation in their communities. Crafts were always involved as a regular activity during meetings and celebrations. We will explore this history and craft practice, drawing links to contemporary textile practices and campaigning today.

On display as part of the 2025 Banner Exhibition you can see the Redhill Women’s Co-operative Guild banner from around 1900.

Explore resources and creations to inspire yours.

All textile abilities welcome, suitable for 12+ (under 16s must have an accompanying adult)

• We are able to offer a limited number of free places to people in economic difficulty – please help us to continue to offer this by only taking it if you need it.
• If you require British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation please contact access@phm.org.uk or 0161 838 9190