The Textile Museums Network Project
The Textile Museums Network Project is the result of the synergy of two project activities:
A feasibility study regarding the establishment of a Textile Museums Network entitled The DNA of European textile production and innovation, promoted by the Department of Economic Development of the Municipality of Prato and financed by the Region of Tuscany as part of the New Development Pact – Project Area 6;
The Twintex Museums Project financed by the European Commission Town Twinning movement which supports conferences, educational programmes and information campaigns involving towns and cities from different European countries;
During the Executive Committee meeting of the European Textile Collectivities Association (ACTE) held in Varazdin in Portugal on 21 November 2005, the Municipality of Prato, in its capacity as representative of the workgroup focusing on textile museums, expressed its interest in promoting common projects aimed at developing synergies between textile museums in the towns and cities of the network. With the general aim of widening collaboration, comparison and integration between the towns of the ACTE network by encompassing the cultural sector and thus developing comparisons, best practices and synergies between the textile museums of the ACTE community, the members of the network warmly approved the idea of setting up the TWINTEX Museums project.