Tewkesbury Visitor & Information Centre
Stitchstory is an innovative community project to create a collective artwork using the medium of hand embroidery that portrays the history of Tewkesbury. It is a 6-metre central panel portraying the history of the town surrounded by a community border, it has been made in local workshops reaching over 8,300 people. The town community were asked to take the time to add a stitch, so stitch by stitch the artwork grew.
Stitching happened in schools, youth groups, businesses, at markets, the leisure centre, at sporting and community events, on the streets, in people’s homes with so many people taking the time to add a stitch, to make their mark.
It led to conversations and reminiscences that explored Tewkesbury’s history and helped people to identify what residents felt was important to record, what should be celebrated and remembered. These were embroidered by individuals to create the border.
Some represent memories such as fish and chips by the river; landmarks of the town, others represent the communities and organisations that support us. The list is long and not exhaustive. These were then made into three companion banners to be displayed alongside the panel. With so much support from the town, the original concept of one piece of work has become a gallery of four!
In parallel with Stitchstory is Storytrail, a digital audio history project to curate a trail around the town using recordings from local people and was produced by three young people from the town.
Stitchstory was the initial idea of Community Artist Jo Teague, who delivered the project and has supported it throughout. Stitchstory was produced by Megan Dunford, Community Engagement Producer at Tewkesbury Culture and The Roses Theatre and was documented and illustrated by Sam Morris, a local artist and illustrator.
We are extremely grateful to Karen and the team at Firmfix and Merv Watkins and Matt Watkins from Mervyn Watkins Joinery who very generously offered their time and support to produce a bespoke frame and stand.
We thank Tewkesbury Borough Council for supporting and granting permission for the installation of Stitchstory at Tewkesbury’s Visitor and Information Centre.
A special thanks to our funders. Stitchstory and Storytrail has been supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic England, Gloucestershire County Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Tewkesbury Town Council and The Roses Theatre Trust
You can now visit Stitchstory during the Visitor and Heritage Centre’s opening hours, more information here:
To find out more about Stitchstory or to book a talk or group visit get in touch with Megan via our Contact Us Page here
