Over eighteen months ago a small group of experienced textile artists decided to form the Monnow Textile Art Group so they could pass their skills and knowledge onto a larger audience. The group run a programme of hands on workshops in a wide range of textile arts, ranging from making a bag out of recycled denim jeans, to collages out of paper and fabrics. All tutors are friendly and helpful which ensures that participants get the most out of their day. Another activity of the group is that they also hold regular 'Stitch and Chat' meetings, where members can bring along a piece of their work to either get advice on how to complete their project, or explain to other members how to do a similar piece of work. These are held between 11.30am – 2pm on the first Thursday of each month in the Wye Room at Bridges Community Centre. All are welcome to just turn up and visit the group during these sessions. The group were initially given a start up grant by Rural Community Action, Monmouthshire, and at their first Annual General Meeting held recently at Bridges Community Centre, Shirley Hughes from RCA was present to hear how the group has grown in their first twelve months. Shirley Hughes said "it's encouraging to see that in such a short time the group has recruited 37 members and is well on its way to becoming sustainable. "To ensure the workshops are accessible to all in the community, their workshops are held in rural areas, such as village halls, as normally, these type of workshops are only held in places such as Newport, Hereford and Bristol. They are also encouraging young people to participate in the workshops and this will encourage intergenerational interaction".
