Can textile conservation inform textile art?

Abstract

This study shows that it would be useful for textile conservators to share their specialist knowledge with textile art students in the UK. The findings indicate that textile artists and tutors are keen for an element of textile conservation to be incorporated into textile courses. Knowledge and skills that textile conservators possess that may be helpful to textile students at art college and throughout their artistic career are listed. Ways textile conservators and students may benefit from interaction are highlighted. Possible methods of outreach are discussed and limitations of implementing interaction considered.