Organizer Information
Bloomsbury Festival is an annual multidisciplinary arts and culture festival based in Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom, celebrating creativity, community, and collaboration across the local area. Established as a platform connecting artists, residents, cultural organizations, and institutions, the festival presents exhibitions, performances, workshops, talks, and participatory projects that explore contemporary social and cultural themes.
For its 20th anniversary edition, Bloomsbury Festival presents Threading Organisms 3.0, a participatory community-based Residency project curated by artist and curator Tere Chad. The project combines sustainable artistic practices, ecological observation, and community engagement through Textile Art, Performance, and collaborative creative processes. The residency explores symbiotic relationships between living organisms and human communities, using textile upcycling as a medium to reflect on cooperation, interdependence, and environmental awareness.
The project will take place at Holborn Library and culminate in performances and an exhibition as part of Bloomsbury Festival 2026. Through workshops, research sessions, mentoring, and public presentations, participants will develop artworks and performances that celebrate the relationships and partnerships built through the festival’s two decades of activity.
Title & Description
Threading Organisms 3.0 – Bloomsbury Festival 20th Anniversary Residency
Threading Organisms 3.0 is a participatory artistic Residency project inviting artists and community participants to explore connections between living systems, sustainability, and collective relationships through textile upcycling, research, and performance.
Curated by artist Tere Chad, the project focuses on observing and celebrating symbiotic relationships among living creatures and the networks of collaboration that have supported Bloomsbury Festival over the past 20 years. Participants will investigate ecological relationships through literature review, guided observations, workshops, and creative experimentation.
During the residency, participants will transform recycled textiles into costumes, artworks, and performance elements. The creative process combines Textile Art, Craft, Performance, environmental awareness, and community storytelling. The project encourages participants to examine how relationships in nature can be cooperative, dependent, or parasitic, and how these ideas can be represented through artistic practice.
The residency includes workshops, mentoring sessions, research activities, material exploration, and collaborative development. The final outcomes will be presented through public performances and an exhibition during Bloomsbury Festival 2026 in London.
Threading Organisms 3.0 welcomes participants interested in sustainable art practices, community projects, ecological themes, and collaborative creative processes. No previous experience is required, making the project accessible to artists, makers, and community members interested in developing new skills and participating in a collective artistic experience.
Categories
- Textile Art
- Craft
- Performance
- Visual Arts
- Mixed Media
- Installation
- Sculpture
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Environmental Art
- Community Arts
- Research
- Sound/Music
- Fine Art
- Sustainable Art Practices
Eligibility
Applicants and participants:
- Are open to artists, makers, and community participants interested in collaborative artistic processes.
- Can apply regardless of previous artistic experience.
- Should have an interest in sustainability, ecological observation, community projects, and creative experimentation.
- Must be available to participate in the residency sessions between August and September 2026.
- Must be willing to contribute to the final performance and presentation activities during Bloomsbury Festival 2026.
- No professional artistic background is required.
- International and local participants may participate, although activities take place physically in London.
The residency encourages participation from diverse backgrounds and welcomes individuals interested in:
- Sustainable creative practices
- Textile upcycling
- Community-based art
- Environmental themes
- Performance development
- Collaborative artistic research
Program Benefits & Awards
- Free participation in the Residency programme.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Mentorship and guidance from curator Tere Chad and guest mentors.
- Training in textile upcycling, performance, and visual arts practices.
- Workspace and access to project materials.
- Opportunities for networking with artists, cultural organizations, and community members.
- Participation in Bloomsbury Festival 2026 events.
- Professional documentation materials for portfolios.
- Promotional and marketing support.
- Certificate of participation for participants completing the required attendance criteria.
- Opportunity to showcase artworks and performances through:
- Public performances
- Exhibition presentation
- Festival events
Participants must note that the residency does not provide monetary remuneration. Participation is voluntary, with support provided through materials, mentoring, workspace, professional exposure, and artistic development opportunities.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Personal details
- Interest in the project
- Availability during the residency period
- Background information
- Motivation for participating
- Relevant artistic or community experience (if applicable)
Previous artistic experience is not required.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 19 July 2026
- Notification of Successful Applicants: 26 July 2026
- Contract Signing Deadline: 2 August 2026
- Residency / Upcycling Marathon: 4 August – 5 September 2026
- Textile Recycling Campaign: 15 June – 10 August 2026
- Workshops, research, and creative development: August – September 2026
- Exhibition Presentation: October 2026
Location
London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
- The residency consists of approximately 29 sessions, including workshops, mentoring, research activities, rehearsals, and festival presentations.
- Participants must attend at least 70% of sessions to receive a certificate.
- The project explores ecological relationships through artistic research, textile recycling, and community collaboration.
- Participants will create costumes and artworks through recycled textile materials.
- The final outcomes will include performances and an exhibition during Bloomsbury Festival 2026.
- Participants grant permission for photographs, audio, and audiovisual documentation created during the project to be used for archival and promotional purposes.
- The project is curated by Tere Chad, a London-based artist and curator specializing in collective sustainable artistic processes.
- The residency supports community engagement, sustainability, and interdisciplinary artistic exploration.