Exhibition

Soft Power: lives told through textile art

17 May - 10 August 2025
Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm

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£9 £4.50 Standard entry price

Discover personal and collective stories woven through fabric, reflecting life's journey.

Curated by textile art pioneers Professor Alice Kettle and Professor Lesley Millar MBE, Soft Power brings together contemporary artists who use cloth to tell powerful, personal and political stories. Featuring works by artists including Anurita Chandola, Sarah-Joy Ford and Enam Gbewonyo, the exhibition explores themes of identity, empowerment and social change.

From intimate autobiographical pieces to narratives shaped by global events, the artworks highlight how textiles connect communities across cultures. By giving voice to often overlooked experiences, Soft Power demonstrates how fabric is not just a material, but a means of communication and resistance.

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Visitor information

Address

RWA (Royal West of England Academy)

Queen's Road, Bristol, Greater Bristol, BS8 1PX
01179 735129

Free to all

Opening times

Join us in our transformed building from May 2022.

Exclusions and safety measures

Reopening after major refurbishment on 2 May 2022. Facilities now include large new lift; expanded cafe; family-friendly activity space; changing places toilet facility; free-to-access spaces on all floors. Admission charged for major exhibitions; half price for Art Fund members and free for all under 21s and all students.

Visitor information

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