Within the museums sector, the Costume and Textiles Study centre at Carrow House offers opportunities to view a superb collection of British costume and textiles including Norwich shawls. The surviving Norwich pattern books are held at the Bridewell museum, where displays also feature the history of the industry itself. A group of experienced volunteers work with curators to further research the history of Norwich textiles. If you are interested in joining our research group please contact Cathy Terry, Curator of Social History: cathy.terry@norfolk.gov.uk

In the educational world, a wealth of both practical and analytical courses continues to support a flourishing contemporary textile culture, with many practitioners and artists choosing the local textiles tradition as inspiration for their work. These are augmented by a vast number of informal groups specialising in embroidery, patchwork and quilting, lace-making and spinning, weaving and dyeing. Textiles, past and present, continue to inspire!