Exciting Times for TWGG Applications!
Our applications window is opening on Monday 4th August for a generous 8 weeks - we want people with lots of plates to spin, caring responsibilities, school holidays and challenging work schedules to navigate to have plenty of time to craft their submissions for next year!
The schedule also means that you can hear back from some other shows coming next Spring, and decide if you want to apply to Woolly Good - we want to be as supportive as possible for vendors and organisers in making their decisions…
And as decisions go? How on earth do we do that? We’re just a group of textile pals, trying to balance everyone’s needs - there’s no agenda other than trying to make a great festival for people. We need to consider different kinds of yarn and tastes, types of accessories, do Scotland and the super-local proud, ensure we have new and small businesses represented, provide space for vendors who rarely exhibit, and keep the list fresh. If you know about us already, you’ll also appreciate that we have a transparent commitment to ensure equitable opportunities for vendors from minority ethnic groups which have been historically underrepresented.
We don’t have criteria set in stone - and each year brings its own challenges. For example, if we had 40 spaces to fill and received 300 applications but 50 of them were from project bag producers - how many could we choose? We make the best decisions we can, in balance with all the other vendors exhibiting.
We’re expanding opportunities this year, with an option for a micro ‘pop-up’ stand for half a day. Priced at just £50, this is aimed at super small or new businesses, people unsure if they have enough stock for a large 2-day festival, or who might feel overwhelmed by a large or long event. It means people can dip their toe in at TWGG with smaller risk. It also means we can bring ticket holders an opportunity to discover new faces and fibre delights with special rooms dedicated to these exciting micro-stalls.
We are so fortunate to be surrounded by enormously talented makers… if you are thinking of applying, thank you! Please do read our guidance, which is a detailed application for vendors or an Expression of Interest for those wanting to provide a workshop or give a talk. Do chat to people who have come to us over the last few years and get their perspective. And remember, if you are not successful, it doesn’t mean anything other than we’ve had to struggle with really challenging choices. We’re all trying to be good humans.