History

The association was founded in 1983 under the name *Kollektiva Textiltryckverkstaden för Yrkesverksamma Konstnärer och Konsthantverkare* (The Collective Textile Printing Workshop for Professional Artists and Artisans). The vision was to create better conditions for artistic textile production by offering a well-equipped workshop featuring large printing tables that enabled large-scale commissions.

Since then, the workshop has evolved into a natural meeting place where the exchange of knowledge and peer interaction foster both artistic innovation and a sense of community. Today, *Konstnärernas Kollektivverkstad Textiltryck Malmö* serves as a professional production facility for textile art, design, and craft. Over the years, we have organized numerous professional development courses, participated in networking events, collaborated with educational institutions, and worked on digital development, environmental policies, increased openness, and gender equality. Affiliated artists have created many works for public spaces, engaged in research, and exhibited their art both within the Nordic region and internationally. The journey to where we are today has been long and winding, yet also enjoyable and filled with a strong sense of community and shared purpose:

1980s

1983 – KKV-Textile Printing Malmö was founded as a non-profit association with the long name Collective Printing Workshop for Artists and Craftspeople. The organization was established by Ellen Odin, Tora Greve, Birgitta Nilsson Schlick and Dyveke Zadig. Ellen Odin was elected as the chairman. We had 6 members.

1984 – We searched for a location and approached the Cultural Support Council to obtain rental subsidies.

1985 – We found a temporary “home” at KKV-Grafik on Borrgatan 3. We held our first workshops at the studio, which we since then continued and we organise annually various training sessions in textile techniques.

1986 – The graphic artists needed more space, and we were forced to leave Borrgatan. We were without a location and without money, but managed to rent a small space at Tegelgårdsgatan 5. Three of the members covered the rent until we received rental subsidies from the then Cultural Support Council.

1987 – We received equipment grants from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee and rental subsidies from Malmö’s Culture Council. We moved to Tegelgårdsgatan 7 in Gamla Väster.

1988 – The collective had grown to 16 members.

1989 – Our first joint exhibition Textile Printing at Galleri Loftet near Lilla Torg.

1990s

1990 – We moved to larger premises at Korsgatan 6.

1991 – Karl Adrian started working as a caretaker and helped us build up the studio.

1992 – Exhibitions Textile Inspirations and By the meter were shown in our new premises.

1993 – Marketta Mäkinen was elected as the chairman. Karl Adrian built our large oven for thermofixation of the printed textiles. The anniversary exhibition Ten! was shown in a large space on Baltzargatan in Malmö.

1994 – Exhibition We are Malmö Culture City – Malmö city.

1995 – Margareta Bergstrand was elected as the chairman.

1996 – We were able to order our steam fixation machine for fixing wool and silk. Participated in The Art Fight in Kivik. Collaboration with the Danish Design School.

1997 – KKV-Riks and the Swedish Textile Network were formed, which allowed us to work in other studios across the country and host visiting artists. We had grown to 41 members.

1999 – Josabet Werkmäster was elected as the chairman. The Swedish Textile Network held its annual meeting at Malmö Textile Printing Collective, with guest lecturers Ingrid Dessau and Berit Woelfer. Participated in the Malmö Festival with the exhibitions Pennants in the Wild in Slottsträdgården and Flag Play in Magistratsparken.

2000s

2000 – Received a grant for our first computer from the Swedish Arts Council. Opened up for one-year student memberships.

2001 – Exhibition Facades at Butterikshuset during the Malmö Festival. Collaboration with “The Blue Horse” – Children’s activities.

2003 – Exhibition Pennant Grove during the Malmö Festival. Collaboration with Malmö Opera and Malmö City Theatre began.

2005 – Collaboration with Malmö Pattern Cutting Academy and Östra Grevie Folk High School began. Exhibitions The Washing Line during The Malmö Festival and Textile Print X Ten at Osby Konsthall.

2006 – Our gallery – Textilkoll, was formed and we joined the newly established Nordic network NTA – Nordic Textile Art.

2007 – We were able to acquire a large exposure table for screen printing frames and held the exhibition Textile View on the City.

2008 – We received our first project grant from Region Skåne. The exhibition In Blanco – or the Art of Daring at Trelleborg Museum. Collaboration with Kulturfabrikken in Copenhagen.

2009 – Dyveke Zadig was elected as the chairman. Exhibitions Check it out! and Block Printing – a Cultural Heritage at Textilkoll. Our newsletters were initiated.

2010s

2010 – Exhibition In Blanco at Rydals Museum, as well as Green is Nice and GRAFICAL at Textilkoll.

2011 – Exhibition GRRRRAFIK 2011 at Textilkoll. We received the operational grant from Region Skåne, which allowed us to establish a position of an administrator.

2012 – The exhibition In Blanco was shown at Vetlanda Museum.

2013 – Karin Olu Lindgård was elected as the chairman. Collaboration with Moderna Museet – Children’s Best Biennial. We participated in “Malmö Nordic” with the exhibition Loves at Form Design Center. We changed our name to Textiltryck Malmö and participated in the project Multiple.

2014 – International collaboration On Your Marks with Print Block Studio in Ireland. Exhibitions and workshops on linen from historical and contemporary perspectives. Textile Manifesto 2014 at Galleri 21. An environmental policy was developed to promote environmentally-friendly measures in the workshop.

2015 – Exhibition On Your Marks at R-Space Gallery, Ireland, and Konstfrämjandet Malmö. “Textile Manifesto” continued at Bosjökloster.

2016 – We worked to promote Malmö Textile Printing Collective as a platform for textile art in the region through the project Textile Art in Skåne.

2017 – We focused on increasing openness in the studio and participated in The workshops’ day and Malmö Gallery Night with the exhibition Color is Magic. We started our recurring window exhibitions at Textilkoll.

2018 – The exhibition Blueprint was shown at Galleri Textilkoll after internal training in cyanotype printing. Digital room with photo studio was inaugurated – a forum where the physical craft and the digital media meet. A double rinsing sink was installed and we created a room with a focus on dyeing and washing textiles.

2019 – Transfer press and sublimation printer were acquired with support from the Swedish Arts Council. The exhibition WHITE was shown during Malmö Gallery Night.

2020s

2020 – Pandemic year. We started the Knowledge Bank to utilize our members’ various skills. All meetings were held digitally via Zoom. The exhibition “Isolation” was shown during Malmö Gallery Week. Increased operational funding from Region Skåne enabled us to appoint a position for digital communication and visionary development of the workshop.

2021 – Another pandemic year. We participated in the Southern Sweden Design Days (SSDD) with the exhibition Printed Meters and showed the exhibition Transferred in our gallery during Malmö Gallery Weekend.

2022 – The project Textile Matters initiated collaboration with the Ceramic Center in Höganäs. We organized a lecture series – Expand Your Field – with invited colleagues in art and design. The exhibition Light was displayed during Malmö Gallery Weekend.

2023 – Participated in Southern Sweden Design Days with the exhibition Färgade Meter. A dyeing stove and large dyeing vessels were acquired for a new and improved dyeing station. The association celebrated its 40th anniversary. The anniversary was marked with the juried members’ exhibition Collective Craft at Form/Design Center. Textiltryck Malmö was named Form Carrier of the Year by Svensk Form Syd.

2024 – We participated in Southern Sweden Design Days with Everyday Fibers and in the exhibition Lager during Malmö Gallery Weekend.

2025 – Participated in Southern Sweden Design Days with Berättande meter and Triptyk during Malmö Gallery Weekend. Sofia Boy Lindeberg was elected Chair.

2026 – The workshop’s anecdote book, Verkstadsberättelser, was published. The exhibition project Skjortan, carried out in collaboration with Malmö Tillskärarakademi, was shown at Galleri Textilkoll. The exhibition Inrutat was presented during Malmö Gallery Weekend.