KEYNOTE

Friday 4 September 2020

11am - 12pm BST (British Summer Time, London, UK)

Zoom event link:
https://zoom.us/j/94416744503?pwd=ZU15Y2NxOFoyMDlHQTd5VStHcEhoQT09
Passcode: 817236

If you follow a thread it will take you around the world

Polly Leonard, the founder of Selvedge magazine, trained at The Glasgow School of Art and Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, specialising in Embroidery and Weaving, although actually she made sculpture, using techniques found in basket making.

While in the US I was exposed to the business of art, to infrastructure, galleries, publications etc that supported the work of artists. After graduating I went into teaching and taught for a decade, while continuing to study The History of Art and Museum Education. All of theses strands came together seventeen years ago when the internet had reached a critical mass, it was just large enough to support a global niche business, but significantly this growth had sparked a counter reaction and increased interest in craft and hand skills. These two elements coming together account for the success of the magazine.

I have taken inspiration from some of my favourite features published in the magazine over the last seventeen years to talk to you today about the connection between cloth culture and creativity. If you follow a thread it will take you around the world