Global Textile Art Arrives in Cromer
Take a walk down the West Promenade this October, and you will find something entirely new blowing in the sea breeze at Artspace on the Prom. We are excited to host a dedicated contemporary textile exhibition for the very first time.
Our open call Cliff Edge: Textile Art on the Brink, has attracted artists from around the world, and textiles from thirteen countries have been selected for the exhibition.
Where Land Meets the Void
The title Cliff Edge isn’t just a nod to our local geography. Like the literal coastline of Cromer, where solid land meets the void and stability gives way to erosion, this collection explores the precarious space where contemporary textile practice stands today. These artists are working at the boundary between tradition and innovation, craft and concept, material and message.
The exhibition showcases the breadth of modern textile art, capturing voices from across the globe alongside regional makers:
- International Perspectives: We are proud to feature striking conceptual work from international practitioners, including Ayla Willaert’s Textile Nude 1, Ioanna Maria Giakoumaki’s Silence that Resists, and June Lee’s haunting multi-figure installation Bystander.
- Environmental & Coastal Realities: Artists are responding directly to the textures of the coast and shifting landscapes. Look out for Lizzie Kimbley’s Slipping through the net, Debbie Lyddon’s 9 Salt Vessels (Age 10), and Anna Olsson’s political commentaries Seagull at the plastic sea and Self-censorship.
- The Weight of Memory & Tradition: Pieces like Charlotte Little’s Great-Granddaughter Jacket, Dr Jane Hattrick’s You reported you are able to sew, and Sonja Verma’s Herta 1913 use thread to carry personal and social histories.
Key Exhibition Dates & Events
The exhibition is free to visit and open daily from Friday 2 October to Wednesday 14 October 2026 11am – 4pm. Dates for your diary:
- Launch Night: Friday 2 October from 5:30pm–7:30pm. Be the first to see the exhibition with refreshment in hand.
- Artist talk: Fiona Roberts will present ‘An Archive of Absences’ about the jute industry on Thursday 8 October at 6:00pm.
- Open Late Night: Tuesday 13 October from 6:00pm–8:00pm. Experience the textures of the exhibition after hours with refreshments.