Naarm Textile Biennale – Social Fabric
30 September – 25 October 2025
Forty Five Downstairs – 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN – CLOSING 29 AUGUST 2025
Following the success of Naarm Textile Collective’s past exhibitions, the Collective is building on the increasing interest in contemporary textile art with our 2025 Naarm Textile Biennale with the theme Social Fabric which will be exhibiting at FortyFiveDownstairs for four weeks.
The Naarm Textile Biennale will showcase progressive textile art exploring the relationship of textiles to other art disciplines and exploring the limitlessness of textile art. Social Fabric will be a collaborative group exhibition consisting of textile artists from Victoria. Social Fabric will look at the value of textiles in our lives and the role of textiles in telling stories and presenting contemporary cultural and political issues. The exhibition will highlight and explore the ability of textiles to preserve memories of people, places and times.
Social Fabric will highlight textile artists and the quality of their work raising awareness of contemporary textile arts. With textiles traditionally being held in low esteem and considered as ‘just women’s work’, this exhibition will be an important opportunity to challenge its standing alongside other fine art. Social Fabric will showcase the variety of textile techniques, wide range of materials and interpretations that challenge traditional ideas of textile art.
Flinders Lane was the centre of the fashion and textile trade in Melbourne for many years. Forty-Five Flinders Lane was part of this history as home to many textile businesses over the years. Social Fabric returns textiles to a place built to showcase them.
The exhibition is curated by Tamara Russell
Important Dates:
Entries Close: 29 August 2025
Notification: By 5 September 2025
Delivery of Selected Artworks: 10–11am Monday 29 September 2025
Exhibition Dates: 30 September – 25 October 2025
Exhibition Opening Event: 5-7pm Tuesday 30 September 2025
Collection of Artworks: 10-11am Sunday 26 October 2025
45Downstairs Gallery Opening Hours
Tuesday – Friday: 12pm – 7pm
Saturdays: 12pm – 4pm
Naarm Textile Biennale – Social Fabric is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program
