Common Threads: Quilting Circle and Storytelling
Photo courtesy of The Columbia Museum of Art
Funding Categories
Honoraria
Supplies
partner
The Columbia Museum of Art
location
Columbia, SC
About
This free program was two-pronged. The morning consisted of a workshop to learn the basics of quilt making followed by a quilting circle, where attendees were invited to practice their craft, connect with one another, and share their own stories. The day was punctuated by an ongoing storytelling event in the galleries with Yvonne Wells and Tina Williams Brewer’s work serving as the springboard.
Intended Outcome
To connect the rich traditions of quilt making and storytelling by sharing about artists like Yvonne Wells and Tina Williams Brewer and to meet the demand in Columbia for access to hands-on artmaking programs that teach new skills and welcome practitioners of all ability levels.
Actual Outcome
This was the first workshop focused on quilt making that the Columbia Museum of Art has ever offered, and it was well-received as evidenced by the event being sold out. Though none of the experienced quilters knew one another prior to the workshop, they immediately connected, speaking about their quilting experiences and discussing their design ideas for the collaborative quilt project. Roughly two-thirds of those in attendance had never been to the museum before or had visited only once in the past.
Advice Post Project
Consider the time of year for this event. Summer is a season when many locals leave the city, and if the program had taken place in the cooler months, the museum would have expected the attendance to be greater. Understanding the seasonality of your attendance should be a key factor in determining what programming you plan and when.
Women participate in a quilting circle at The Columbia Museum of Art
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Photo courtesy of The Columbia Museum of Art