Thank you all who joined us!

The Linen Biennale Northern Ireland 2023 is up and running officially since July 29th, and it’s been go go GO ever since, hence the delayed post here.

We want to extend a massive heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for the opening event in Lisburn on July 28th. A delightfull evening was had by all at, what some are calling the ‘the grandest opening R-Space had ever seen’.

If you were unable to join us here are some of the highlights of the day. Captured by our wonderfull photographer Neal Campbell.

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Proceedings began at The Island Arts Centre from 3pm – we launched the beautiful group show, Common Threads and heard from some of our project leads and funders.

Next, we maybe had the world’s first Linen Procession – promenading around the Lagan Valley Island and up via Castle Gardens to R-Space with the Linen Biennale’s coloured flags flying, and the Longest Linen Tablecloth currently available to us, held high.

(P.S. Did you know that the colours in our brand and on the flags represent the past (yellow), present (blue) and future (orange).)

At R-Space we gathered once again to open Jill Phillps’ wonderful exhibition, Connected Emotions. This interactive textile installation explores connections between emotions and different types of design.

Upstairs in the Linen Rooms, we had Emma Whitehead of Top Foor Art facilitating some designing work and engagement for our Longest Linen Tablecloth Project (come join us for more fun with this on 9th Sept for European Heritage Open Day).

Through the evening, Pamela Wittiker and Bridget Nugent, arts therapists from the Belfast School of Art, conducted one-to-one rituals with our guests, and finished the evening with a closing circle, where they shared writings and reflections on linen and cloth, and it’s role in our lives.