A group of women with a Middle Eastern background discussing Syrian garments. Photograph by Maria Linkogle.We are happy to draw attention to the latest project at the Textile Research Centre, Leiden, with the title 'Engaging Textile Heritage Communities through Citizen Culture'. It is co-funded with the sum of 20,000 euros by the national Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie (The Cultural Participation Fund), and runs from April 2023 until October 2024.
For this particular TRC project we invite three groups of women from a variety of textile heritage communities to share knowledge about the textiles and textile related objects from their respective communities, included in our TRC collection. Each group meets various times to discuss textiles and garments from their respective communities. They organise a workshop of their choosing, plan a small presentation and set up the presentation itself.
The project is aimed at supporting heritage activities of groups with different cultural backgrounds, thereby stimulating closer cooperation among and between these groups. Participants will develop multiple perspectives on the value and meaning of their textile heritages, and participants will have a voice in the interpretation, appreciation and representation of that heritage.
When the groups have completed their mini presentations, the three groups will come together to share the knowledge of their respective heritages. They will choose a theme that ties the textile groups together and prepare for an exhibition and a workshop, lecture or study day based on the theme chosen by all participants.
A group of women with a Turkish background discussing Turkish garments. Photograph by Maria Linkogle.In the past we have cooperated with members of diasporic communities who helped with background information for the textiles and garments in our collection, but this project will expand this aspect of our work.
As a research centre, we have technical and historical knowledge of our collection, but we can get a more complete body of knowledge about the items from the people who themselves, or have seen family members, make or wear or use the textiles.
With their help, we can build more complete stories about our textiles, as well as make more connections with different communities. This is what we call Citizen Culture at TRC.
Although this knowledge gathering and sharing with the bearers of the culture is not a new concept to the TRC, it is the first large project we have created based on this concept and we appreciate the support and trust from the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie.
Maria Linkogle, 29 June 2023
A group of women with a Middle Eastern background at the TRC discussing Syrian garments. Photograph by Maria Linkogle.
