University of the West of Scotland (UWS) will host a special pop-up event at its Paisley Campus, showcasing student work inspired by the town’s historic textile industry.
The event, which is part of the annual Arts and Media Showcase, will be delivered in partnership with local sustainable fashion enterprise, ReMode.
Taking place on Thursday, 29 May, from 1pm to 3pm in the upper atrium of the main building at Paisley Campus, the exhibition will feature a curated selection of student works inspired by Paisley’s historic weaving and textile industries. These pieces have been developed through ReMode’s Heritage Lottery-funded project, Through the Mill, which invited students to reimagine and celebrate the town’s cultural legacy.
Dr Clare Duffin, Lecturer and Programme Leader for the MA Music course, and Arts and Media Showcase Coordinator, said: “This special showcase at our Paisley Campus is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate both student creativity and the town’s powerful cultural legacy. Collaborating with ReMode on a project that connects our students with Paisley’s textile heritage has been incredibly meaningful.
“Exploring themes of identity, place, and sustainability through the arts helps our students ground their work in the real world – drawing inspiration from where they are, and who they are. It’s a wonderful way to honour Paisley’s past while looking forward to the future of creative practice.”
Liberty Ray who is Project Coordinator with ReMode, added: “Collaborating with UWS on the Through the Mill project has been an enriching and worthwhile experience. It’s inspiring to see students engage so deeply with Paisley’s textile heritage, bringing fresh perspectives to traditional narratives.
“This partnership not only celebrates our town’s history but also emphasises the importance of sustainable practices in contemporary creative industries.”
The Showcase is particularly fitting for Paisley, a town with a global cultural footprint not only through its historic textiles but also through its contribution to music. As the hometown of internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini, UWS established the Paolo Nutini Scholarship, supporting the next generation of talented music students.
This year, two of the Scholarships are proudly held by students on the University’s MA Music programme, highlighting the exceptional calibre of emerging talent honed at UWS.
ReMode, based in Paisley, is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion and reducing textile waste. Through workshops, events, and educational programmes, ReMode empowers young people and the wider community to make environmentally conscious choices in fashion.
The pop-up exhibition is free and open to the public, inviting the local community, students, families, and creative industry partners to come together and celebrate the innovative spirit of Paisley’s new generation of artists.
For more information and to register for the event, please click here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/arts-and-media-annual-showcase-festival-awards-2024-25-tickets-1327998452119.