Programs for Guilds and Groups

The Quilt Alliance offers virtual and in-person programs to help your guild or group document, preserve & share the quilt stories in your community. We welcome groups of all sizes, including guilds, community groups, shops, or other organizations. We look forward to helping you document and celebrate the quilts in your community.

We’ll show you how to develop simple and easy habits, including labeling, photography, record-keeping, and even videography, to preserve and secure your quilt history for generations to come. Our presentation includes demonstrations of our grassroots projects and how your group can use them to:

    • Document the quilts made by your members,
    • Use storytelling to get to know each other better,
    • Honor and celebrate the history of your guild, and
    • Promote and enrich your shows and exhibitions.

Program selections

QA group programs are live multimedia presentations with video and audio clips and are typically presented by QA staff members. Each program is 30-60 mins (duration is adjustable to fit your time slot). We include an interactive 10-minute segment at the end of the program where we invite a few of your group members to share a quilt and help us demonstrate how to record a Go Tell It quilt video and/or create a quilt label. Presentations and handouts are customized for each group, and we supply at least one door prize for each program.

The BackStory: The Hidden Stories of Quilts and How to Keep Them from Fading Away

Click for program description.

The nonprofit Quilt Alliance has an easy-to-remember vision statement: No More Anonymous Quilters. We help quilt makers and quilt owners document, preserve, and share the stories of quilts and their makers. This presentation starts with the story of a simple quilt made in 1863 by a Sunday school class in Maine that has an incredible backstory that underscores the power and value of quilt documentation. We’ll share examples from the QA’s two grassroots projects, Quilters’ Save Our Stories oral history project and Go Tell It, a video documentation project. Examples included in the talk will be customized for your organization and location when possible. We’ll talk about the ways members of your group can use each project to record and preserve stories in your community. Three key steps for quilt documentation will be emphasized: labeling, photography, and writing. 

Handout: pdf with project resources, documentation tips, and how to participate and contact QA staff.

Label That Quilt! How to ensure that your quilt never becomes Anonymous

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Quilts hold stories, memories, and cultural significance that deserve to be preserved! The nonprofit Quilt Alliance will explore the world of quilt documentation and labeling through engaging videos, informative resources, and inspiring examples. We’ll talk about how to capture the essence of your quilts on a label to help ensure that their stories don’t fade away. Real-world examples of quilt labels will be highlighted and we’ll encourage you to find a labeling process that works for you, whether it’s a simple label written in pen or an interactive QR code printed on fabric. We’ll talk about how documentation can be enriched by connecting quilt labels to other forms of documentation like photos, videos, and journal entries. Make No More Anonymous Quilters your group motto too!

 

Handout: pdf with labeling resources, documentation tips, and how to participate and contact QA staff.

Program benefits and pricing

Guild programs are $200/ea and come with a free one-year membership for your group with lots of other benefits, including:

  • One virtual or on-site Quilt Alliance presentation for your group per year (travel, accommodations, and per diem for the speaker are not included).
  • Free banner ads (two per year) to advertise your group’s events in the Alliance newsletter.
  • Free Affiliate Memberships. Your members will receive a coupon code to register themselves as QA Individual Members for one year (must join while group membership is active). The coupon covers free membership at the Friend Level ($35) or provides a $35 discount for all higher levels. See our membership page for more information.
  • Free registration for workshops on quilt documentation topics throughout the year.
  • Access to the QA recording archive that includes quilt documentation workshops, Quilters Take a Moment events from 2020-2023, and the StoryBee interview show (38 episodes).

    Add-on programming for QA Guild/Group members:

    • Additional Zoom lectures during the membership year: $100 ea.
    • Documentation Days (on-site or virtual) where QA staff  lead oral history interviews and/or video recordings with members of your group
      • Half-Day Documentation Day custom plans from $500-$750†
      • Full Day custom plans from $1,000-$1,400††Contact us to plan your Documentation Day. Prices do not include travel expenses.

    Already a group member? Log into your Alliance member portal to renew your membership or access your benefits or contact QA Office Manager Debby Josephs if you would like to check the status of your membership.

    Contact us to help you plan your guild program

    Subscribe to the QA Newsletter for Groups & Guilds

    • All subscribers receive access to The Backstory, a free recorded virtual lecture that you can share with your group
    • Free content for your group’s newsletter (including thousands of Go Tell It and QSOS interviews) for programming and inspiration
    • Be the first to know about opportunities for your group to partner with the QA and other groups
    SIGN UP FOR OUR GUILD/GROUP NEWSLETTER

    Recent programs with guilds

    Explore these free resources

    Documentation Ideas for Groups and Guilds

    • Record a “Go Tell It” interview during Show & Tell at regular meetings
    • Interview a member regularly (quarterly, every meeting) using the QSOS interview template
    • Set up a “Documentation Station” to photograph quilts
    • Hold quilt documentation days in public places like libraries, churches, schools, or local arts councils
    • Create a History Committee to keep records of your group activities and event programs
    • Document the quilts in your group’s quilt show or exhibition
    • Document your donation or charity efforts
    • Create a custom label for your group or event

    Our Projects Include...

    We’re proud to share the stories of thousands of quilters via our oral history projects, QSOS (Quilters’ Save Our Stories) and Go Tell It! You can use these interviews for inspiration, entertainment, and education. Please mention that the interview is courtesy of the Quilt Alliance and include a link to our website — www.quiltalliance.org. Enjoy exploring these projects!