Experience 'Collectief Weefsel': Rosa Smits' Participatory Textile Art Exhibition at Museum Het Schip

This exhibition at Museum Het Schip showcases the work of Amsterdam-based textile and participatory artist Rosa Smits. The exhibition explores the social, tactile, and procedural nature of weaving, focusing on how communities can live and work together through collaborative tapestry creation.

From October 14, 2025, to January 17, 2026, Museum Het Schip presents 'Expositie Rosa Smits: Collectief Weefsel,' featuring the work of textile and participatory artist Rosa Smits. Based in Amsterdam, Smits is captivated by the social, tactile, and procedural aspects of weaving, using her art to investigate how people can coexist and collaborate harmoniously. She extends her artistic vision by involving local residents in the collective weaving of tapestries, fostering a new, shared language that strengthens social and tactile connections across diverse backgrounds. Her projects have led to the formation of contemporary collectives in various regions, working with communities from rural Morocco to her own neighbors in Amsterdam. Smits's 'Collectief weven manifesto' emphasizes participatory art's power to directly involve the public as active participants. Her practice celebrates the connective force of communal weaving, inviting individuals to contribute with their hands, voices, and creativity. In an era dominated by mass production and digital screens, her work highlights the beauty of handcrafted artistry and the deep satisfaction derived from co-creation. Weaving, as a slow and repetitive process, encourages connection, reflection, and a heightened awareness of touch, prompting a more deliberate engagement with 'work' and fostering presence. The act of weaving together creates ample space for listening, as hands are occupied with threads, and for sharing personal memories and stories, which often connect participants to the craft itself. As conversations unfold and threads intertwine, a new collective fabric emerges, symbolizing community art and a tangible map of a unique place, reflecting the network of people, tools, sounds, shared teas, and stories that shape the process.

The page lists several 'Collectief weven' sessions with Rosa Smits on specific dates, described as free and offering opportunities to contribute to a communal artwork. Visitors are directed to a 'Lees meer' link for further details and booking.