Australian Tapestry Workshop.

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting the Australian Tapestry Workshop. The ATW, formerly the Victorian Tapestry Workshop, has operated in its South Melbourne headquarters since 1976, constantly collaborating with artists, interpreting their concepts through woven compositions. The workshop has enabled an ancient craft to evolve into a contemporary art form, allowing it to remain one of the few producers of hand woven tapestries in the world while also becoming Australia’s largest creator of public art. The workshop has 

crafted over 400 tapestries to date, all of which are displayed in renowned public and private collections.

Untitled 1977

Mike Brown 

Woven by Iain Young &Alan Holland 

The Schiaparelli Project 1998

Alum Leach - Jones 

Woven by Irene Creedon 

Furthermore, each tapestry has been produced with Australian wool, dyed on-site in one of the 370 colours specifically created for and by the workshop.Recently the workshop has been weaving a number of commissions, including a tapestry titled Sorry designed by Juan Davila for the centenary of the dome in the State Library of Victoria (where it can now be viewed.) The workshop has also just finished a commission by his Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to translate one of his watercolours into a unique tapestry. Upon my visit, however, I got to see the production of Catching Breath designed by Brook Andrew, an ambitious tapestry being woven in two separate parts, to be joined upon its completion.  

The studio space is completely inspiring with natural light beaming from the skylights above, illuminating the traditional architecture of the building and the bright colours that weave in and out of the tapestries in work.  The workshop radiates an atmosphere of serenity as it encompasses the perfect harmony between art and craft, old and new. 

The Australian Tapestry Workshop has kept an amazing practice alive in Australia while also continuing to source Australian wool. It was a privilege to see the weavers in work and I hope the Australian public continues to support such an amazing organization.    

To show your support for the Australian Tapestry Workshop you can donate to the Give an Inch campaign http://www.givenow.com.au/austapestry

http://www.austapestry.com.au

262-266 Park Street
South Melbourne Victoria 3205
Australia

P (61 3) 9699 7885
E contact@austapestry.com.au


ATW is open to the public Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am-5pm.

You can visit the retail shop and the galleries for free, or pay $5 entry for a studio viewing.

Guided tours of the Workshop are available on Wednesdays at 11am and Thursdays at 2pm, which go for approximately 45mins - 1 hour and cost $10 per person. Bookings are essential for guided tours.

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