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About WAP

It all started with a visit to New Zealand. A little village in the Montana area of New Zealand started running a Wearable Art Festival. Over several years, their enterprise has grown to a huge international festival attracting designers and artists from all over the world.

So we thought, why not do the same thing here in Painswick? Our first year in 2010 was a great success, attracting about a thousand visitors. Just one year later, there were more than 80 entrants to the competition, and over 4,000 visitors on the day. The entries consistenly reach an extremely high standard, and the whole day is thoroughly enjoyable. We are going to get even bigger and even better.

As well as featuring the artists who present their creations, we also support local businesses, offer opportunities for high quality arts and crafts makers to exhibit and sell their work, attract musicians and other performers who will provide entertainment for visitors, support selected charities directly, and provide a thoroughly enjoyable festival day for every one. Eventually we hope to have a permanent exhibition of the wonderful costumes that have been designed for the event.

The Festival is run by a small committee of local enthusiasts, supported by local businesses and the wonderful and friendly people of Painswick village. Our activities also raise money for local charities: in 2012 these will be Headway and Cotswold Care Hospice.

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To contact us, please use this email link

To enter the Wearable Art competition, visit the Contestants link on this website.

We welcome craft makers, specialist designers and food providers to help create an exciting environment of stalls that will add to the event. Please download an application form and look at our terms and conditions.