The Fabric of Ashford

The Fabric of Ashford is an art installation co-created with the community that will transform the bandstand in Ashford, Kent into an inspiring tribute while also empowering the community to look ahead with hope and positivity.

The project will involve a series of free workshops alongside our famous mobile artwork the Recovery Poems. Join us to create fabric-based artworks that will be incorporated to the installation at different points throughout the summer, making it a living, growing art piece!

Workshops and Recovery Poems Dates & Times:

• Saturday 17th July meet us on the High St bandstand and join our team of artists who will kick off the project with a live demonstration of making, painting and sewing! Join the workshops (1-6pm) and see the Recovery Poems -for the first time in Ashford!- until 8pm.
• Saturday 31st July. The Recovery Poems and free workshops will arrive to Victoria Park (fountain area), 1-4pm, and then to Elwick Place 5-8pm.
• Saturday 14th August. Same as above! The Recovery Poems and free workshops will arrive to Victoria Park, fountain area 1-4pm, and then to Elwick Place 5-8pm.
• The Fabric of Ashford installation will grow in size over the summer as we add more pieces created with the community. Keep an eye on our social media channels as we reveal more!

How can you participate?

• Join the free open workshops on Saturday 17th and 31st July, and 14th August.
• Donate remnants of fabric to Made in Ashford for other people in the community to transform into flags. Got a story to tell about this piece of fabric? Tell us or post it on social media with the hashtag #fabricofashford
• Collect pieces of fabric from Made in Ashford (from Monday 19th July) and get creative at home painting, sewing and embroidering. Bring back your artwork and we will incorporate it to the installation!
• You can also help by creating Memory Knots which you can easily craft ​at home​ and tie to the bandstand. Let us know what yours mean by using #fabricofashford on social media! - More details on this soon!

See the video below to find out about the collaborative process behind the Recovery Poems, with poets Deanna Rodger and Robert Montgomery themselves:

This project has been made possible with the support of Ashford Borough Council and Love Ashford.

Graphics by Tinybeegle