Textile Art Course 2025 - Stitch by Stitch: Young Artists Take the Stage at the Out of Hand Exhibition
There’s something magical about seeing a young artist’s work hanging in a professional gallery. The soft hum of the space, the curious public leaning in for a closer look, and that little spark of I made this glowing on their face.
At Wild Stitch Studio, we’re passionate about keeping Hobart’s creative spirit alive — one stitch at a time. In a climate where many art and textile programs have disappeared from schools and TAFEs, we’ve taken up the needle to make sure young people still have access to high-quality, hands-on arts education. Our courses and community projects give emerging artists the tools, confidence, and encouragement they need to believe that creativity can be a future.
Our Textile Arts Course is designed for absolute beginners and seasoned makers alike, encouraging students to leave fear behind and discover their own visual language. Whether they’re crafting sculptural textiles, quilts, or wearable art, each student is guided by experienced tutors who nurture experimentation, skill-building, and creative confidence.
This year, our students were given something truly special: the opportunity to exhibit their work alongside professional artists in the Out of Hand Exhibition at the Salamanca Long Gallery. Partnering with the wonderful team at Stitching and Beyond, this event showcases the most imaginative fibre, paper, and textile artworks from across Tasmania. For our young makers, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, seeing their work on display, open to the public, right beside established artists. There were awards, visitors, and the kind of creative energy that reminds you why art matters.
In a time when creative industry courses in Hobart are shrinking, we see this as a vital step forward. These programs aren’t just about learning to sew, they’re about showing kids (and parents, and policy-makers) that being an artist can absolutely be a career. We’re determined to keep these opportunities alive and thriving in our community, proving that art education deserves a permanent, passionate place in Hobart’s future.
And because we’re not ones to rest on our laurels, we’re already planning ahead. In 2026, our Textile Arts Course will expand into an eight-week program, giving students even more time to explore, develop, and refine their craft. Then, in January 2027, thanks to new funding, we’ll be hosting our very own exhibition at Rosny Farm, a full celebration of the creativity that blooms within Wild Stitch Studio’s walls.
Until then, we’ll keep doing what we do best: nurturing curiosity, championing creativity, and stitching together a future where art, community, and self-expression have room to grow.
To our wonderful community, students and parents, thank you for believing in the power of creative education. Every class, and every exhibition helps keep Tasmania’s art scene vibrant, inclusive, and full of possibility.