Two Million Yen Boost for Textural Space (22.03.01)

One of Japan's largest art foundations has awarded two million yen to Textural Space, a major exhibition of work by Japan's leading contemporary textile artists which opens at The Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University on the 27 April.

The award is made by the Pola Art Foundation and Keiko Kawashima, the exhibition co-ordinator in Japan, will receive the grant at a special ceremony to be held at the end of March.

The two million yen, equivalent to approximately £11,500, is the most recent in a string of funding awards made in support of Textural Space and ensures the financial security of the exhibition. With wide support from within the UK as well as Japan, the exhibition is backed by almost twenty separate groups including The Japan Foundation, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Japan 2001, the Arts Council of England and the Crafts Council of England.

Textural Space will introduce entirely new work to the UK, much specially created for the exhibition. Opening at The Surrey Institute's galleries on 27 April 2001 with simultaneous events at The Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Maidstone Library Gallery and Rochester Art Gallery, Textural Space will show work that bridges the disciplines of art, design and architecture from the world leaders in textile art.

To coincide with the exhibition, The Surrey Institute is to host a symposium examining the various ways in which artists, designers and architects derive an understanding of form in space and, in particular, of the role of textiles in space. Entitled the Texture of Space, the symposium will take place on 4 May 2001.

Note(s) to the Editor

1. The Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University is one of Europe's largest independent colleges specialising in art, design, media and communication. Based in Farnham and Epsom in Surrey, the Institute has nearly 3,000 students studying on over 30 programmes leading to diplomas, degrees and postgraduate qualifications. From autumn 2000, The Surrey Institute will deliver a new BA (Hons) programme in Product Design Sustainable Futures.

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