International

The association collaborates with Rydal's museum in a major EU project called Be.CULTOUR that also includes Forsvik's mill. The Swedish part of the project is run by the Administration for Cultural Development at the Västra Götaland region and aims to develop the places with tourist potential with sustainability in mind and with new ways of cooperation. The project started on March 1, 2021. We have now completed several workshops/seminars and are working to, in collaboration with many, produce a local development plan. The Be.CULTOUR project will end in the summer of 2024. The final report will be published here.

Our association has made contact with Beatrice Miller, an undergraduate student that is studying Art and Design at Michigans University with focus weaving. During 2022 she will be guided by Hillevi Skoglund, a member of the association's board, to enable her project with our collaboration. Beatrice introduces herself as follows:

"My name is Beatrice Miller. I am an American undergraduate student at the University of Michigan’s Stamps School of Art and Design. I am a junior and working towards my BFA degree with a focus in textiles.

I am currently working on a project inspired by traditional Swedish weaving patterns. Last year I acquired a Swedish Glimakra countermarch loom and became interested in the history of Swedish textiles. This project is a research project in which I hope to learn about both the history of Swedish handwoven textiles and how these historical techniques have evolved to the work of present day Swedish fiber artists.

The focus of my project is currently on wool textiles, specifically blankets, coverlets and ryas. I am very interested in learning about the traditional patterns and techniques used to make these types of textiles in Swedish culture. I am also interested in learning about traditional equipment used for both spinning wool and weaving textiles in Sweden. I am planning to create my own large woven textile that is inspired by my research and woven with Swedish wool. I am interested in learning more about traditional Swedish sheep breeds and am planning to spin my own yarn for this project.

I am unable to travel to Sweden next spring/summer due to the pandemic. I am hoping instead to create the opportunity for myself to learn from others knowledgeable in these topics virtually. I feel that interacting with a knowledgeable community of fiber artists and producers in Sweden would be a very beneficial addition to my project. "