🏭Collective XXL Embroidery Installation
An embroidery participatory work from Barcelona FCH for community building
What is this tool about and why is it relevant ?
This tool designed and implemented by the Barcelona pilot whitin CENTRINNO is a collaborative 2x2m embroidery panel created to foster community involvement and the exchange of traditional skills, all while reclaiming spaces for women across various fields of labour. The large feminine embroidery panel was a tool designed and created by a collective of women initiated under the scope of the Poblenou Fàbrica/ Fabrica Exhibition by the Make Works members: La Clandestina Poblenou (composed by Sonia Benitez, Lara Farbe, Estefanía Franco), Un Taller para Todas (Women carpenters collective) and Fab Lab Barcelona. Check more information here.
The objectives were to foster community engagement and create interactions between local manufacturers; to promote skills-sharing activities and traditional techniques; to vindicate the role of women in the art world; and to create awareness about women’s rights and traditional manufacturing skills.
Why this tool could be relevant (also) for your FCH ?
Circular Economy
The collective XXL embroidery prioritised the sourcing of materials from local suppliers and the use of a bicycle cargo to transport the installation, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. The collaboration between various organizations in the embroidery project also played a pivotal role in promoting circular economy principles by pooling resources and expertise, creating a shared ecosystem and maximizing resource efficiency.
Heritage
As techniques that have been passed down through generations, choosing cross-stitch embroidery combined with traditional carpentry was a strategy for the Barcelona FCH to valorize cultural heritage and traditions. In collaboration with other Make Works members we pay homage to our ancestors and their craftsmanship, ensuring that their skills and cultural expressions are not forgotten. In addition, by dedicating these designs to women's rights, the activities became a medium for storytelling, conveying the struggles of women throughout history. Lastly, the act of making things in group (collective) allowed people to share ideas, knowledge and stories while embroidering. With this tool, we encouraged individuals to participate in a common installation dedicated to promoting women's rights and fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
Organise a significant event for your FCH
Organizing a series of events contributed to strengthen our relationship with key stakeholders by providing a platform/ space for MW members to connect and build relationships, sharing ideas, resources, and expertise, leading to a more robust and interconnected intervention;
Establish key partnerships
Involving stakeholders in this partnership helped to foster a sense of ownership and engagement within the community. As a result, there was a clear increased participation, a broader reach, and a stronger sense of shared purpose.
The coordination and creation of the collaborative embroidery panel enabled the local team to obtain the follwing results :
→ A collective of women was initiated with participants willing to share knowledge and resources after the event
→ a large number of people (around 100) participated in the open workshops
→ a new business was started and new embroidery installations were created (festivals, restaurants)
→ a concrete collaboration allowed the strengthening of relation among Make Works members
Organisational Practices
The use of this tool contributed to the following changes in local organisational practices each of them related to some of the three foundational aspects of a FCH: Vision , Community and Infrastructure.
OP1. Activating interactions and facilitating connections and collaborations among the different actors active in urban environments
OP6. Enabling participation in expression and debate through inclusive approaches that give space to citizens and local communities
OP7. Facilitating community action, while orchestrating a common vision
OP9. Create awareness around convivial forms of innovation, manufacturing capabilities, creative citizenship and social connections
→ This tool gave the opportunity to meet stakeholders regularly, co-create a plan for the intervention and the steps to be follow, divide/ distribute responsibilities, discuss about the importance of womens’ rights in the context of local manufacturing
Key Steps
Find here a list of suggested steps shared by the Barcelona Team to guide you in case you would like to replicate this tool in your local context.
Summary Table
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