On Thursday 14th October, our level 3 art and design students were visited by Gaynor Bowen from the Shrewsbury Drapers Company to be briefed on their upcoming textile design competition.
Our students have been tasked to submit pieces for the Company’s 2023 edition of the awards, with the theme of ‘East Meets West’. They will have their work on display for the public to see, with financial prizes and a unique placement opportunity.
Shrewsbury Drapers Company is a long-established guild which was granted a royal charter in 1462. The guild has been running almshouses continuously since 1444.
Today the guild is a modern, volunteer-led organisation which mobilises the skills of dozens of volunteers to work for the public good. As well as continuing to build and run almshouses for the benefit of our residents, they preserve and maintain an historic guildhall, encourage textile crafts and education by an annual competition for both adults and students at school and college and continue the historic connections and traditions of The Company within Shrewsbury.
The student awards consist of a gold award with a prize of £200, a silver award of £150 and a bronze award of £50. There is also another award, The Jackie Ryan Memorial award, created in 2016 to commemorate Jackie Ryan the founder and managing director of Tweedmill Textiles Ltd based in Flint. For that award, one student wins a two-week work placement where they create a woollen throw or blanket, with their work being produced and sold in the Tweedmill catalogue.
The closing date for registration is Monday 30th of October, with the prestigious adult and student awards & presentation evening on Tuesday 14th November, in The Darwin Room, Shrewsbury Library. There will then be a 10-day public exhibition showcasing our students work, among others.
“Our theme this year is ‘East meets West’, which is a very broad subject and it’s how the students interpret that theme” says Gaynor Bowen, Master of the Shrewsbury Drapers Company. “It could be an eastern culture like China or Japan or a Western Culture like America and combining all these influences.”
“A brief like this gives students industry knowledge, as well as a real-world client brief to work to.” says art & design lecturer Claire Routledge. “The competition raises profile as an artist, illustrator or designer, it really helps their CV and will help them get into a university in whatever area they want to specialise in.
“The college’s entries last year had a highly commended entry and the bronze award, as well as 3 commended entries the year before and the one of our students won the overall prize a few years ago!”
For more details about the award, visit the Shrewsbury Draper’s Company website here.
