The Gathering

Creating a celebration of Plymouth Sound

PROJECT IDEA

The Gansey Gathering is back and this time bigger and better than ever. This project explores sustainable practice in art, craft and fishing with the community.

We have been resurrecting the art of gansey knitting in Plymouth and using it as a tool to explore creativity, sustainability and our disconnect with our coastal heritage. To date we have taught 60 people to knit a 'Janner' gansey from photos in our city's archives both at The Box and in the Fisher Collection. Many of those who have learn't to knit a gansey are on their second jumper now, one lovely knitter, the extraordinary Sue Hurne - her eighth!

This work was a really well received and we were inspired. So we are taking all that we have learnt and will provide

exciting opportunities in 2026 for creating through a programme of gansey related events.

There are four parts to this marvellous new work. Firstly, the artwork 'ADRIFT' which will be the creation of five ganseys knitted in the traditional way but with contemporary designs that speak of the issues faced by commercial fishers today including global warming and dredging. These designs will be co-created with the gansey knitters from our course. Then worn at sea by five local fishers to see the effect that modern work practices and weather has on the garment. Then exhibited locally & nationally. We are seeking fishermen who are interested in getting involved. Simply email hello@theconscioussisters.com. We are looking for commercial fishers only who can wear the gansey to work.

Next forty people will learn to knit their own gansey at The Box with the wonderful Tina Barrett over 15 weeks. All wool and equipment will be provided and sourced from Frangipani wool in Cornwall. Every fortnight the knitters will listen to inspirational speakers which will be creatives, marine experts & fishers lived experience. Also they will get a chance to develop designs for ADRIFT through a shared swatch and ideas station and creative sessions.

Thirdly we will develop a digital global gansey network with knitters from USA, Holland & Scotland, then co-create a digital creative programme on zoom for National Gansey day in November 2026 working with previous knitters. We have contacts already with the Cordova project in Alaska and Scottish Fisheries museum.

Finally we are going to produce a creative coastal event/Gansey Gathering which is a heritage & art and craft making showcase. All our knitters will be invited to parade around in their ganseys. We did wear them last May at Pirate Day which was hot. They seem to work well in all temperatures. The event will be developed by a curatorial team of gansey knitters, local fishers, creatives & historians meeting over 5 months at The Box to plan festival content. Pop-ups at Pirate weekend and other local events will give the public a chance to share ideas for the event and a if they are digitally minded there is a Pinterest board anyone can access for digital input from Feb 26.

Running alongside The Gansey Gathering creative coastal showcase is a 3 month engagement programme serving 6 communities, a mixture of shore communities & new developments inland, half adult, half children. Signed up so are is Stoke Village Hub, Brook Green Centre, PDREC, First Stonehouse Scouts & Mount Wise Primary. We are also aiming to run workshops in Sherford which will be open to anyone who wants to attend.

Artists delivering this will have five days over 3 months to co-produce INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE WORKS with their community for the event that could be

performance, parade, sculpture, song and will produce a legacy in that community.

The well-being of participants will be surveyed using WEMWEBS.

The event day itself will have free taster workshops for the public including STORY WALKS, COSTUME WORKSHOP, FOLKLORE WRITING, TRADITIONAL CRAB POT MAKING, GANSEY KNITTING, OCEAN RITUAL and free entertainment of Morris/clog dancing, folk and shanty

singing etc. Watch this space to find out when The Gansey Gathering will be happening this summer.

GET INVOLVED

If you want to join our final Janner Gansey course please fill in this online application.

Application Form for Janner Gansey Course