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Black Talk: Hanif Abdurraqib and Antonio Michael Downing in conversation

Textile's inaugural fall literary event on Sept. 27 will feature readings and a critical discussion on shaping identity, the weight of excellence as expectation, and the relationship between the arts and culture, space and place, and Black life.

Artist-in-Residence Program Support

The City of Kitchener partnered with Textile to support its annual Artist-in-Residence program.

One Asia, Many Cultures

Performances and artworks for WRDSB's inaugural Asian Heritage Month Celebrations, curated by Textile in partnership with Eastwood Collegiate Institute’s Asian Student Union and the Indigenous Equity and Human Rights team at WRDSB.

Dreaming Into Collective Futures

In response to increasing state and police violence, Textile collaborated with local organizers to invite submissions of writing and artworks in any medium that imagined what police-free futures, community safety, and mutual aid networks could look like in Waterloo Region. First place: Niara van Gaalan for her essay, "Land Stories”; Second-place: Roshan James for her artwork, “Objects In Mirror”.

Independent small press publishing

Edited and published Jose Castillo's debut art book, FOLLOWING MORNING STAR, and a zine featuring poetry and art by Black and Indigenous youth who were part of Community Justice Initiatives' Roots to Rise leadership program.

FOLLOWING MORNING STAR →

Roots to Rise zine →

REST

Digital Storytelling Workshops

Offered workshops for emerging writers on how to incorporate layout, colour, and art direction for stories published on the web.

Recollections & Reimaginings documentary

Advised on "Recollections & Reimaginings," a grassroots initiative advocating for an Indigenous community hub at the vacated Charles Street Bus Terminal in downtown Kitchener. Community engagement about this issue was led by members of O:se Kenhionhata:tie (Land Back Camp), in partnership with students and artists in the community, this work culiminated in a short documentary reflecting on the futures of this place, grounded in repairing relationships across the past and present.

Issue 2: Space(s)

Organized a mentorship program that connected new writers and artists with seasoned editors and mentors, resulting in the publication of our second issue, "Space(s)".

Policing the Pandemic Micro-Publication

In collaboration with Article Club KW, co-published a micro-publication titled "Policing the Pandemic."

Issue 1: In Transit

Published "In Transit," our first print issue, featuring a collection of over twenty previously unpublished writers and artists from across Waterloo Region.