Audax Textielmuseum Tilburg

European Textile Trainees (ETT) 2010

For the third year in succession the Textile Academy of the Textielmuseum is initiating the European Textile Trainees (ETT) project. Eight talented students from four European study programmes are given the opportunity of attending a trainee programme in the Netherlands and Italy. The European academies and universities select master and advanced bachelor students to participate. The point of departure in this exchange programme is working and learning in the various textile sectors. The exchange of knowledge and experimentation and the application of materials and production form the central focus. In addition to this, the trainees are expected to work on their own design project within the options on offer. This year a link-up is being sought with the theme of 'sustainability' within the framework of the reTHINK! Exhibition.

The programme comprises two work periods. The first will be held in the Netherlands (Tilburg) the second in Italy (Como). The work period in Tilburg is from 7 September to 8 October 2010. The eight trainees will have working space in de Textile Academy at their disposal. They can work there seven days a week. The programme starts with diverse workshops. Furthermore, trainees are introduced to the museum library and the techniques carried out on the machines in the TextielLab. Working in the TextielLab, where the trainees are supervised by the product developers, is an essential part of the programme. In addition, they visit Dutch textile businesses and design studios in search of further inspiration. The coordination and composition of the programme is in the hands of the Textielmuseum, while the Design Academy Eindhoven supervises the design process. The trainees make their presentations during the Textile Weekend on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 October in their atelier in the Textile Academy. Interested parties can view the results of the design projects that the trainees themselves have developed and they are present to explain their work and the process.

From 10 October to 26 November 2010 the trainees are active in Italy. This second period starts with the CoMON programme, an event organised over several days by Servizi Industriali Srl., UICOMO. The trainees also present the design projects developed in the Textielmuseum and the TextielLab during this event. More information at www.comon-co.it. They subsequently receive training at various textile businesses in Como.

The partners in ETT 2010 are:
Audax Textielmuseum Tilburg
Design Academy Eindhoven
Aalto University, School of Art and Design, Helsinki, Finland
National Academy of the Arts Bergen (KHIB), Norway
Hochshule fur Kunst und Design Burg Giebichenstein, Halle, Germany
Sint-Lucas Hogeschool Beeldende Kunst Gent, Belgium
Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten (KASK), Gent Belgium
COMO Textile institutes, Servizi Industriali Srl., UICOMO, Como, Italy
The Danish Design School, Copenhagen, Denmark

Follow their work on the ETT Weblog.