About

Join us for an afternoon of craft and chat to help shape future programmes for Vestry House Museum

Vestry House Museum will be opening in early 2027. As part of our innovative approach to expanding the collections and including more representative stories we work with partners to co-curate elements of the future displays. The next co-curation project will centre on piecework: work carried out at home, where people were paid for each item or task completed. In addition, we hope to take this project beyond the museum walls through (heritage satellite) broader engagement opportunities, and we would like you to give us your thoughts on how we could do this.

Did you or someone in your family do piecework? If so we invite you to join us for a creative workshop led by local textile artist Sba Shaikh where you will colour, cut and press your own fabric badge to take home.

Choose from original designs printed onto fabric or use recycled fabric, adding your own colours, patterns and personal touches with fabric markers. Then use a badge-making machine to turn your design into a wearable piece.

As we make, we'll explore the stories of people who earned a living through piecework at home-from sewing clothes to painting toys-and the skill and time behind each finished object.

No experience needed. All materials provided. Booking is recommended. Drop-in may be available on the day at the start of the event and subject to capacity.

Sba Shaikh Bio

Sba Shaikh is a London-based artist, educator and creator of Mehraj Arts. Her practice moves between textiles, sculpture and materiality, weaving strands of cultural identity, lived experience, religion and spirituality through colour, structure and form-the in-between and beyond.
Alongside her artistic practice and creative workshops, she works part-time at the University of East London as the Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for the PGCE Secondary D&T programme and is one of the trustees of the William Morris Gallery.

This is a paid opportunity; however you must have personal experience of doing piecework or family stories about piecework to participate - see terms and conditions