Clare Sams joined Suffolk Libraries in November 2023 as our first ever Environmentalist in Residence, taking part in a six-month residency with the purpose of using creativity as an instrument to provide education and increase public awareness around environmental issues.

Clare is a textiles arts practitioner, lecturer and arts educator. She has a master’s degree in Academic Practice for Art Design and Communication and holds a Guinness World Record for the largest crochet hook.

During her residency, Clare's work explored environmental themes, supporting people to learn skills in mending and upcycling to prolong the life of their clothing and reduce household textile waste. Over the course of the residency, Clare reached over 200 people in the community through a range of sustainable mending groups.

A final output of the residency was a book produced in collaboration with Clare called ‘Mending and Repair’, inspired by a report she wrote during the residency about how community spaces provide a platform for teaching people about sustainability. The book is now available to borrow through our library catalogue.

“Throughout my residency I became aware of the unique nature of the spaces offered by Suffolk Libraries to local communities. As a place of learning, they were an invaluable space to discuss the environmental impact of fashion and textiles. Most importantly the libraries serve as safe spaces which offer a supportive and welcoming environment for everyone in the community.” (Clare Sams)

Find out more about Clare's residency in this YouTube video.