The International Call for Submissions will open on: Sun. Feb. 1, 2026
and close on Sat. Feb. 28, 2026, at midnight Toronto time.
2026-27 Festival Dates:
Starts: Wed. Sept. 23, 2026
Opening Reception: Sat. Sept. 26, 2026
Ends: Sun. Jan. 17, 2027
The World of Threads Festival is a leading international showcase of contemporary fibre and textile art. We’re a not-for-profit initiative with charitable status run by a few dedicated volunteers. We believe that some of the most exciting and compelling artwork being made today is happening in the field of fibre arts. Check out our Instagram @worldofthreads for images and videos from Festival 2023.
The festival takes place at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada and organized and curated by Dawne Rudman and Gareth Bate. Our 2023 artists come from Canada, England, Finland, France, Hungary, India, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, Uruguay, USA, US Virgin Islands and Wales.
Download the Brochure for the last festival
World of Threads Festival 2026
We're planning to have the next Festival in fall 2026. Sept. 23, 2026 to Sun. Jan. 17, 2027. Opening Reception: Sat. Sept. 26, 2026. Subscribe here for updates...
On our website, Festival Organizers and Curators Dawne Rudman and Gareth Bate have built a comprehensive archive of 135 interviews with some of the most exciting fibre artists in the world. We have become a unique hub for fibre and textile art with a current following in 99 countries. Follow us on Instagram @worldofthreads and like our Facebook Page. When sharing artworks and exhibitions on your social media please credit the artists and curators by name. Tag them if possible. Use #worldofthreads and #worldofthreadsfestival.
Synchronistic Curating:
Something that's different about World of Threads Festival is that we let the art guide us. Festival curators Gareth Bate and Dawne Rudman don't have predetermined curatorial ideas or impose their concepts on the artists. Each new festival is a blank slate. Group shows develop entirely out of the submissions we receive. To find our main gallery exhibitions we look for connections, relationships and common themes among the thousands of artworks submitted. These works are made by hundreds of artists from around the world. Often artists seem to be on the same wavelength during a particular period. Over time, through many hours of sorting through artworks, the exhibition themes just emerge and become clear to us. It’s important for artists to understand that we do not plan to have themes in advance, and so we cannot ask you to submit work based on the theme that we ultimately decide on. There is an element of luck when it comes to the main gallery exhibition because the show develops as we look at the artwork. Take a leap of faith. Your art may be relating to someone in another country and could inspire an entire exhibition. We have used this curatorial method since 2012. It has been very successful and resulted in compelling and unique exhibitions every time.
Awards
2023 Ontario Culture Days:
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
Acknowledging exceptional achievement and recognising accomplishments of the World of Threads Festival.
2016
Community Spirit Arts Award:
Dawne Rudman
Recognizing an individual that through their volunteerism has made an invaluable contribution to the Oakville community and contributed to nurturing and enhancing the arts.
2015 Community Impact Arts Award:
Dawne Rudman and Gareth Bate
Recipients for bringing global attention to Oakville and elevating the fibre/textile art form around the world.
2007 Community Spirit Award for
Volunteerism in the Arts: World of Threads Festival
2007 Oakville Volunteers of the Year:
Dawne Rudman