Over the last ten years the connective and collaborative characteristics of digital media have re-introduced the language of participatory production-and-distribution into the cultural sphere. New media art has contributed to the rehabilitation of discourse on the nature of the commons, materiality and open methodologies. Although these ideas are informed by new media systems they have older histories in collectives, community organisation, folk and craft culture. Digital art and socially engaged art, along with craft, are historically on the margins of the modern 'fine' art world, also functioning within spheres of popular and folk culture.
The Textile Reader first edition (Berg, 2012) featured Ele Carpenter's artwork the Html Patchwork on the front cover. The book will be republished by Bloomsbury in 2022.