British Textile Biennial 2025

This autumn, Venture Arts is delighted to be part of the British Textile Biennial 2025 (BTB25), which takes place across East Lancashire from 2 October – 2 November 2025.

BTB is a major month-long festival that celebrates the rich textile heritage of the region while exploring how textiles connect to contemporary issues of identity, innovation, and global change. Each edition brings together international artists, makers and communities to consider the textile industry’s history and its future.

Three Venture Arts artists are exhibiting as part of the Biennial programme – a significant milestone that shines a national spotlight on their practices.

Emelia Hewitt | As It Happens at The Whitaker
2 October – 23 November 2025
During a summer residency at the Whitaker, Emelia Hewitt explored the museum’s natural forms using anthotype printing and natural dyes, creating innovative images while reducing photographic chemicals.

Sally Hirst | Warped at Helmshore Mills Textile Museum
2 October – 2 November
Sally Hirst’s first solo exhibition shares the stories of mill workers whose lives were shaped by disability and overwork, while celebrating her own journey as an artist and advocate for inclusion and accessibility.

Sarah Lee | Riding a Bike in a Flight Suit at OneTwoThree
2 – 12 October 2025
Using large-scale embroidery, Sarah traces the stories of Lancashire manufacturers of high-performance fabrics, entwined with science-fiction narratives and speculative futures.

Tours and Talks at BTB25

Save the date: Fri 10 – Sat 12 October

Alongside the exhibitions, Venture Arts will host a special programme of events over the weekend of 10–12 October, led by Emelia, Sally, Sarah and members of our team.

Accessible Tours of Warped with Sally Hirst
Helmshore Mill, Helmshore.
Fri 10 Oct, 1pm & 2.30pm
Sat 11 Oct, 1pm & 2.30pm
Join Sally Hirst for an accessible tour of her exhibition Warped, sharing the inspiration behind her work and the powerful stories of two mill workers who became disabled through their experiences in the mills.

Artist Talk: Emelia Hewitt & Sally Hirst
Helmshore Mill, Helmshore
Sat 11 Oct, 11.30 – 12.15pm
A conversation between Emelia, Sally, their facilitators Laura Nathan and Martin Livesey, and Katherine Long, Head of Creative Development at Venture Arts. They’ll discuss their practices, their BTB commissions and the wider significance of learning disabled artists in shaping a more inclusive arts landscape.

Sarah Lee: Artist at Work
OneTwoThree Gallery, Burnley.
Sun 12 Oct, 1–3pm
Watch Sarah Lee stitch live into her work Riding a Bike in a Flight Suit, joined by textiles facilitator Laura Nathan, and gain insight into her practice and research.

All events are free and don’t require booking – we hope to see you there! 

For the full BTB25 programme head to their website here.