Millennium Tapestry exhibition opens in East London, showcasing rich cultural heritage

Ansar Ahmed Ullah
Contributing Editor,Shottobani

London: A retrospective exhibition titled Millennium Tapestry was officially launched in east London on 24 April, celebrating the borough of Tower Hamlets’rich and diverse cultural heritage. Organised by the charity Care for St Anne’s, the exhibition showcases eight historic tapestries on large canvases, each illustrating the area’s history from the Roman era to the 2000s.

Held at St Anne’s Church in Limehouse, the opening day featured traditional Bengali snacks and a vibrant community workshop. From 11am to 2pm, local women involved in the collective Stitches presented their needlework, sharing their stories and demonstrating the skills they developed through the project. Many spoke about how their involvement with Stitches in Time, a community arts organisation based in the old Limehouse Town Hall, empowered them to pursue further opportunities, some even leading to employment.

The tapestries are part of a larger collection of 50 panels created to mark the turn of the millennium. More than a thousand individuals from the East End—including schoolchildren, community groups, and corporate volunteers—contributed to the ambitious project.

The exhibition is open to the public every Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm and runs until September 2025. It is a collaboration between Stitches in Time and St Anne’s Church, reflecting a shared commitment to celebrating the borough’s vibrant community through art and storytelling.