£20,000 grant from Broderers’ Charity Trust helps preserve Ulster’s embroidery heritage

National Museums NI has received a £20,000 grant from the Broderers’ Charity Trust to support the conservation and celebration of one of Ireland’s most significant textile collections, the Ulster Folk Museum’s renowned white work embroidery collection.

The funding is supporting the museum’s Drawn Threads and Running Stitches project, which conserves and researches historic embroidery while creating new opportunities for learning and engagement among students, makers, and visitors. The project also includes new acquisitions, hands-on workshops, and a forthcoming publication that will explore the artistry and social history of embroidery in Ulster.

The grant was recently celebrated with a visit from members of the Worshipful Company of Broderers and the Broderers’ Charity Trust to the Ulster Folk Museum, where they viewed highlights from the collection and met with some of the museum’s team. 

Valerie Wilson, Curator of Textiles at National Museums NI, commented:

“We are incredibly grateful to the Broderers’ Charity Trust for their generous support. This funding is enabling us to conserve delicate examples of white work embroidery - ensuring their survival and helping us share their stories of skill, creativity, and community.

“Through the Drawn Threads and Running Stitches project, we’re not only preserving the collection but also reawakening interest in embroidery as a living craft, connecting contemporary makers and students with centuries of textile heritage.”

James Neill, Master of The Worshipful Company of Broderers said:

“The Trust is delighted to support Ulster Folk Museum’s work in conserving and interpreting its exceptional white work embroidery collection. Projects like this reflect the enduring value of embroidery as both a craft and a record of social history.”

Image

William Blair, Director of Collections at National Museums NI, added:

“For more than 60 years, the Ulster Folk Museum has served as a valuable heritage resource, preserving and highlighting craft traditions and the social history associated with them.

“Our white work embroidery collection is arguably the finest in Ireland - a testament to the skill and artistry of the women who embellished these textiles. Support from the Broderers’ Charity Trust ensures that this important collection can continue to inspire future generations.”

The white work embroidery collection at the Ulster Folk Museum reflects generations of local craftsmanship, often created by women whose needlework contributed to household income and cultural identity. The ongoing conservation and research will ensure that these intricate textiles, once part of everyday life, continue to inspire future generations.