American Quilter’s Society, the largest quilting membership organization in the world, will return to Grand Rapids for QuiltWeek August 20 to 23 at the DeVos Place Convention Center. More than 15,000 people are expected to visit Grand Rapids to enjoy four days of the best in international quilt and textile artistry. Over 450 quilts will be on display, with more than $50,000 in prizes to be awarded at the event for quilting excellence. In addition, AQS QuiltWeek will be hosting a series of workshops with some of the top talent in the quilt industry and an extensive merchant mart comprised of both local and national vendors.
Included in AQS QuiltWeek’s celebrated exhibits is the SAQA Masters II exhibit featuring 35 quilts from some of today’s top quilting artists. Also on display is the Quilted in Honor traveling exhibit by Island Batik, which supports Operation Homefront, a not-for-profit organization providing financial assistance, food, repairs, and help to the families of our United States service members and wounded warriors in need. Some special show highlights include the famous Quilt of Belonging, an immense, Canadian collaborative work of art, and the Quilts of Aileen Stannis.
New this year, is the 2014 Young Textile Art Challenge. The contest, hosted in conjunction with Experience Grand Rapids, is open to artists ages 18-30 with more than $3,000 in prize money available. Organizers hope the competition will encourage younger textile artists to enter the competition and attend the show. “Grand Rapids is a city that appeals to younger audiences and artists,” says Janet Korn, Senior Vice President of Experience Grand Rapids. “This new textile art challenge provides a platform for inviting younger textile artists to enter and attend the AQS Quilt Week in August.”
Evening events feature world-renowned celebrities presenting their unique spin on fabric, quilting, and life, including dynamic sessions with Sue Nickels and Lyric Kinard. AQS certified quilt appraisers will be available at the event to appraise new or antique quilts for insurance replacement or fair market values from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. There is an appraisal fee of $50 per quilt, payable at quilt check-in.
Admission to AQS QuiltWeek includes access to all special exhibits and the Merchant Mall with more than 200 vendor booths.
Wednesday, August 20, through Friday, August 22: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 23: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ticket and additional information can be found at aqsshows.com/AQSGrandRapids or by calling 1-270-898-7903. American Quilter’s Society has also arranged for steeply discounted hotel rates, which can be booked through the aqsshows.com/AQSGrandRapids website. The event is open to the public.
About the American Quilter’s Society:
The American Quilter’s Society is the largest quilting membership organization in the world. For 30 years, AQS has been the leading voice in quilting inspiration and advice through a broad suite of products-magazines, books, live events, contests, workshops, online networks, patterns, fabric, and catalogs. At AQS, we believe that with inspiration and advice, the creatively-minded individual can take their quilting projects beyond what even they had imagined. The leading authors in quilting choose to publish with AQS; the best in quilt artistry select AQS events to display their work; the newest quilters learn from the knowledge and inspiration of AQS members. For more information on the American Quilter’s Society, please visit http://www.americanquilter.com or call 1-270-898-7903.
