Celebrate the international significance of the 16th century Gideon Tapestries at this specialist symposium.
In July 2023, the re-hanging of the last of the thirteen, 16th century woven tapestries, depicting the biblical story of Gideon and the Midianites, marked the end of the longest textile treatment project ever undertaken in the National Trust’s 130th year history.
Receiving High Commendation in the Museum and Heritage Awards, the project went on to win the illustrious Europa Nostra Award for the Conservation and Adaptive Re-use.
To celebrate this milestone of international recognition, Hardwick Hall and the National Trust’s Textile Conservation Studio have organised a symposium ‘Woven Worlds: A Story of Creativity and Conservation’ which will take place on the 28 – 29 April 2025.
Speakers
Themes presented at the symposium will include tapestry patronage, impact and content around display, collaboration, research, discoveries made through conservation treatments, highlighting new perspectives and advances in general practice.
- Helen Wyld, Senior Curator of Historic Textiles, National Museums of Scotland, previously Paul Mellon Fellow at National Trust 2007 – 2011, author of ‘The Art of Tapestry’
- Historian David Adshead, previously Head Curator at National Trust and editor of ‘Hardwick Hall, A Great Old Castle of Romance’
- Emma Slocombe, Senior National Curator (Dress and Textiles), National Trust
- Pierre Maes, Director, Kononklijke Manufactuur De Wit, Belgium
- Dr. Mark Webb, Researcher and editor of ‘The St Mary’s Hall Coventry Tapestry: Weaving Threads Together’
- Ksynia Marko, former Advisor for Textile Conservation at National Trust, and author of ‘Woven Tapestry – Guideleines for Conservation’
In additional, conservators from Historic Royal Palaces, the National Trust and specialists from private practice will also speak at the symposium.
Tickets will be available February 2025. There are two types of tickets available for the symposium, online and in-person – please check this page on the National Trust website for further information about tickets and how to book.