Stroud International Textiles
We are a not for profit company limited by guarantee
Company number 6608614
Introduction
SIT was established in 2005 following 2 years working under an umbrella charity organisation. SIT runs year round educational work that profiles textile skills and a wide range of crafts for all ages and abilities. There is an annual festival that takes place every May which is a central part of our work. The festival has built a reputation nationally and increasingly internationally, for excellence and innovation. The festival celebrates contemporary work, whilst linking to traditional textile culture. We aim to broaden the perspective of textile arts to other art forms such as performance, dance, music, written word.
SIT works to create opportunities for artists to develop their creative practices.
The Festival Patron is Mary La Trobe Bateman OBE
Visitors to festival 15,000 (2010)
SIT has a Friends membership scheme with over 150 members, an Advisory Board, partnerships, and Business and Private Patrons.
SIT is part of an art collective called Foyer Arts where music, theatre, dance, visual arts, performance are profiled. Foyer Arts actively supports artist led activities.
SIT works to fulfil its vision through:
- Promoting the highest standards of textile art and related craft presentation in our year round programme and through our annual festival
- Creating opportunities in the festival for a wide and diverse audience to appreciate textile art in its broadest sense
- Encouraging exploration of the combined arts through the arts collective – Foyer Arts – and the annual festival
- Associated lectures & workshops to encourage intellectual and practical participation for the public and artists/makers
- Engaging with and supporting the work of established and emerging makers nationally, regionally and locally
- Building its intern scheme and work experience thus nurturing and encouraging new talent
- To present opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy and gain pleasure through the arts , crafts and related art forms
- Developing our marketing and online strategy to reach a wider audience
- Building our partnerships to create opportunity for innovation, exchange of skills and resources
Organisational aims & objectives
The challenge for Stroud International Textiles over the next five years is to develop as an organisation so that we maximize and source the necessary revenue needed to became sustainable and to build reserves.
Key strategic aims:
- To secure financial stability and build a sustainable base
- To build the management and become an exemplar of good practice in management and governance
- To build new partnerships and maintain exiting partners
- To build Business and Private Patronage for the festival in order to build a sustainable future
- To build corporate support for the festival in order to create a sustainable future
- To develop new audiences, local, regional and national.
- To develop our national and international role and presence
- To develop learning and skills initiatives available to a wide range of ages and abilities.
Our overall aims remain:
- Stroud International Textiles (S.I.T) aims to raise awareness, increase knowledge and the enjoyment of contemporary textiles and the related crafts.
- We aim to broaden out to include related art forms
- We wish to challenge the conventional approach to textiles and contemporary crafts while increasing active participation in the arts for a diverse range of people
- We profile and champion high quality textile art and craft experiences locally and nationally
- We profile and support established artists/makers as well as emerging new talent.
- We facilitate support for cultural diversity and artists by providing a high quality contemporary arts and textile programme, including festivals and other year round activities
- We actively encourage and support international cultural exchange between contemporary artists and organisations, and help extend the boundaries of knowledge and practice
- We provide opportunities for education, training and skills development
- We support and encourage artist led activities
- We aim to do the above in Stroud, Gloucestershire and beyond
Audience Development
SIT has a strong commitment to increasing the understanding, appreciation and pleasure of textile art and the related crafts. SIT works to increase audience numbers and access to our year round programme by removing the barriers which may prevent people from becoming involved and engaging with our activities.
We are committed to building a more diverse and larger audience while reaching new audiences and creating a greater loyalty from existing audiences and memberships.
Fundraising
Diversification of income streams is a key part of our risk reduction strategy. SIT must have a clear and coherent mix that takes into account long, medium and short term needs that does not rely too heavily on one or two sources of funding. SIT recognises that effective fundraising will plan for long-term sustainability of the organisation. This in turn will establish long-term relationships with our supporters.
Fundraising activity will centre round grant giving bodies, while developing and maximising sponsorship for the festival, developing private donations and building our income streams.
SIT believes that a planned approach to our sustainability is essential and we recognise that effective financial management is maintained. SIT will work to ensure that the skills of the Executive and Non Executive Board are developed to achieve our potential and to ensure that the organisation follows good practice in its management and governance.
As a priority SIT will make sure that standards are maintained to the highest possible level and the needs of those with an interest in the organisation are met.
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