The Stitch That Bit Back is a textile exhibition for works that refuse to behave. It challenges the assumption that textiles are passive, decorative, or safely domestic. Instead, it presents fibre as a site of tension, rebellion, and transformation—where softness is not weakness and every thread carries intent.

This exhibition invites textiles that speak back: embroidery that interrupts, felt that ferments, quilts that question, lace that lacerates.

Artists are encouraged to explore resistance and repair, the subversion of traditional techniques, emotional labour embedded in making, and the uncanny, absurd, or surreal within fibre.

Personal and collective narratives that unravel, provoke, or expose are welcome, whether expressed through refined craftsmanship or deliberately raw gesture.

There is no fixed theme—only an invitation to twist, pull, fray, disrupt, and reimagine what textile practice can be. Works may be rooted in heritage or radically futuristic, quietly defiant or boldly confrontational.

The Stitch That Bit Back celebrates innovative textile art that doesn’t soothe but stings; not comfort, but confrontation; not softness, but strength with an edge.

The exhibition accepts artworks that engage with textiles through their materials, techniques, concepts, or themes, including both classical textile practices and innovative or experimental works that extend the boundaries of the textile medium.

Free submission. All are welcome to apply, of any age, status, and from anywhere in the world. 

You can submit more than one artwork; please fill out a new form for each submission.

Submission Deadline Fri 10 April 2026 at 23:59 GMT.

The Stitch that bit back exhibition is part of Fringe Arts Bath Festival 2026 (FaB), with 17 exhibition & project call-outs forming the FaB Festival programme, 22 May - 6 June 2026 in Bath, UK.

If you are selected, FaB will ask for a £25 contribution per Artist (not per artwork selected) and some of your time

(Your contribution goes towards hiring exhibition spaces, annual insurance, website hosting, tools and equipment, white paint, coffees for volunteers, printing and social media posts — functional stuff.) – read FaB FAQs for details.

Where will the FaB Festival exhibitions be and how it will be promoted?

All around the city of Bath, in empty shops, on the streets, and sometimes online.

We never confirm exact venues until the spring, which is part of the excitement.

We work with our Curators to place our exhibitions and events in the best locations possible, combining shows which work well near each other, curating the festival as a whole.

The exhibition will be promoted through the festival website, social media (over 8000 followers on Instagram) and printed guides.

Bath is an international tourist destination, and the festival takes place in the heart of the old city. The festival has been running since 2007 and is the only visual arts festival in Bath.

2025 festival brought over 9000 visitors for the show.

About FaB

FaB is a test-bed for new ideas, a platform for early-career curators & artists, and those who prefer to operate outside of the gallery-based arts scene. FaB aims to raise the profile of contemporary visual arts in Bath and beyond.

FaB festival is a free, 2 week festival putting art in unusual places in unexpected ways for people to happen across and interact with, with exhibitions, interventions and events based in Bath, UK.

Fringe Arts Bath Festival 2026 (FaB), with 17 exhibition & project call-outs forming the FaB Festival programme, 22 May - 6 June 2026 in Bath, UK.