A Brief Overview of My Favorite U.S. Quilt Shows

Quilt Shows
Written By Kelly Spell

Quilts in the Art Quilt Elements 2022 exhibition hang at Wayne Art Center in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Quilts by Judy Kirpich, Michele Hardy, Chriss Johns, Susan Lapham, Jill Ault, Clara Nartey, and Victoria Findlay Wolfe.

I am often asked, “How do you find places to exhibit your quilts?” Over the past five years, my work has hung in museums, galleries, and convention centers around the world. Last year, I wrote why I think it’s important to show your work publicly. This year, I’m sharing what I learned about various submission processes so you can feel confident as you explore the big, wide world of exhibition opportunities.

Managing Expectations

Before I go any further, I want to state my intentions for this post. It is not a comprehensive list of every show in the country, nor is it an exhaustive compilation of data. It is a lot of information—some of which is detailed in various calls for entries, and some I learned only through my participation in these shows—that I hope is helpful for anyone researching shows and assembling submissions. Please note: I did my best to present accurate information as of December 2022, but it is subject to change in the future!

The Organizers

In the U.S., we are lucky to have a plethora of quilt shows. There are several organizations that host multiple events or exhibitions throughout the year, and I think of them as The Big Players. They are:

There are many other organizations that host single annual or biennial shows. Some of my favorites are:

The Details

Different organizations tend to feature a few of the same details in their calls for entries: the entry fee, shipping fees, a list of important dates, quilt categories, prize categories, year-of-completion (or what I like to call quilt “age”) requirements, and whether participants are allowed to sell quilts at the show. Most, but not all, of the shows listed below require a quilt to be an original design that is made without the use of a kit or someone else’s pattern.

Some calls include the name(s) of the juror(s) and a brief biography, others do not. Information you generally don’t see outlined in a call for entries is whether a printed catalog or appraisals will be offered—that tends to come later, once your quilt is invited to the show.

One key detail to consider before you submit your work is the time commitment required for each show. Some organizations keep quilts in their possession for months or even years, which can limit your opportunities to exhibit elsewhere. Also, if you submit a single quilt to multiple shows, it’s important to make sure you don’t double-book it! Many of the organizations listed below allow quilts to be picked up in person upon show closing, which can reduce shipping fees and wait times.

Let’s dive into more details! 

AQS QuiltWeek

AQS hosts multiple shows each year. Most quilters are familiar with Paducah QuiltWeek, held every April in Kentucky, but there are also shows in Florida, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri.

  • Entry Fee: $25 per quilt for AQS members

  • Kelly’s Notes: Some QuiltWeek shows have a modern category, but not all of them. The size requirements for various categories can be tricky to navigate. Finally, quilts cannot be listed for sale at AQS shows.

  • Jurying Process: Jurors are not publicly announced. After the submission deadline, it’s usually two to three months before notification emails are sent to entrants.

  • Shipping: The return shipping fee is on the high side ($40 per quilt for quilters in the continental U.S.), but you can also choose to send your own prepaid shipping label. When shipping your work to AQS, multiple quilts can now be shipped together in the same box, and AQS can hold your quilt(s) in between shows if it is accepted into multiple venues. That’s a great cost-saving measure, especially for international folks.

  • Time Commitment: You can choose your own adventure here. If you submit a quilt to a single show, it will be with AQS for just under two months. If your quilt is accepted into multiple shows in the same year, that becomes a months-long commitment to AQS, and your work won’t be available for other exhibition opportunities during that time.

  • Extras: Show quilts have an opportunity to be appraised while at QuiltWeek for an additional fee. AQS produces color catalogs of its Paducah show quilts, which are available for purchase for an additional fee. 

Art Quilt Elements

This biennial show is organized by Wayne Art Center in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

  • Entry Fee: $50 for up to three entries

  • Kelly’s Notes: Communication with exhibiting artists is excellent. Wayne Art Center provides professional photography and videography of its exhibitions, and those materials are usually made available to participating artists. Accepted quilts must be listed for sale during the exhibition, and you need to provide hanging hardware for the show.

  • Jurying Process: Jurors are publicly announced. Typically, their deliberations only take a few weeks! Notification emails are sent shortly after the submission deadline.

  • Shipping: Artists are responsible for shipping to and from the exhibition.

  • Time Commitment: Your quilt will be away from home for roughly two months.

  • Extras: Wayne Art Center hosts an opening reception, and this is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other artists. During that time, the organization records video of each attending artist discussing their quilt, and those videos are shared online. A color catalog is published for each exhibition, and it is complimentary for participating artists.

International Quilt Festival

Quilts, Inc. oversees Houston International Quilt Festival, the largest show in the U.S. In the past, the organization has also hosted shows in California and Illinois.

  • Entry Fee: $30 per quilt

  • Kelly’s Notes: This show often attracts more than 50,000 visitors—that’s a lot of eyeballs on your work! There is a wide range of styles and techniques on display. Quilts can be listed for sale, and because of the show’s prestigious reputation, quilt collectors often purchase pieces here. There are separate calls for the juried/judged show and various special exhibits, so be sure to choose the right option for your quilt.

  • Jurying Process: Jurors are not publicly announced. Notifications are distributed around one month after the submission deadline.

  • Shipping: The return shipping fee is expensive. In 2022, I paid $45 for a single quilt plus a $20 shipping and handling fee. The extra fee covers the cost of labor and materials, and given the price, the quilt is packaged very well.

  • Time Commitment: Quilts, Inc. keeps your quilt in its possession for up to five or six months. That’s a long time, considering it’s not photographing or otherwise documenting quilts in an official catalog during that period.

  • Extras: Show quilts have an opportunity to be appraised at the exhibition for an extra fee.

Mancuso QuiltFest

Mancuso organizes multiple shows throughout the year, including Pacific International Quilt Festival.

  • Entry Fee: $30 per quilt

  • Kelly’s Notes: The quick jury turnaround and overall short time commitment for these shows is great for folks who want to submit their work to as many exhibitions as possible. The prize money is excellent, so competition can be stiff; however, quilts that are awarded specific prizes become ineligible for judging at future Mancuso shows, which means more individual quilters have an opportunity to win.

  • Jurying Process: Mancuso has one of the fastest turnaround times! Notifications are typically sent to entrants the week after the entry deadline. Jurors are not publicly announced.

  • Shipping: Return shipping is covered by your entry fee, which is a nice change from other quilt shows, and it is fast.

  • Time Commitment: These exhibitions have a pretty short time commitment. If your quilt is selected, it’s usually with Mancuso for less than a month. This means you can easily submit it to other exhibition opportunities.

  • Extras: Show quilts have an opportunity to be appraised at the exhibition for an additional fee.

QuiltCon

This annual show is organized by the MQG and held in February each year. The location varies.

  • Entry Fee: $20 per quilt, a great price point for first-time show entrants.

  • Kelly’s Notes: Because this is the only show focused entirely on the modern quilting aesthetic, it is extremely competitive. Quilts can be listed for sale, and the show is gaining a reputation for frequent purchases by collectors and museums. It can be difficult to select the best category for your work—just know you’re not the only one who struggles.

  • Jurying Process: Notifications are typically distributed less than two months after the submission deadline. Jurors are not publicly announced.

  • Shipping: Fees are a flat rate, $20 for the first quilt and $10 for each additional quilt, for a maximum fee of $50.

  • Time Commitment: Generally, your quilt is away from home for less than two months.

  • Extras: The MQG publishes a full-color catalog of show quilts, which is available for purchase for an additional fee. Plus, exhibitors have the opportunity to have their quilts selected to travel the world throughout the remainder of the year as part of the Best of QuiltCon exhibition.

Quilt National

This prestigious, biennial show is organized by The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio.

  • Entry Fee: $45 for up to three entries

  • Kelly’s Notes: The prospectus is available in numerous languages to encourage international submissions. The Dairy Barn considers the works in this show to be some of the best contemporary quilts being made in the world, and collectors frequently purchase a number of works exhibited here. Quilts must be newly made and cannot be exhibited elsewhere before the show. As such, many exhibitors create works with the specific intent to submit them to Quilt National. Selected works travel to additional venues for two years after the show, increasing artists’ exposure to various audiences. Those shipping expenses are covered by The Dairy Barn.

  • Jurying Process: Jurors are publicly announced. Notifications are sent to artists roughly one month after the submission deadline.

  • Shipping: You pay for shipping to and from The Dairy Barn. Scholarships are available for international shipping reimbursement.

  • Time Commitment: Your quilt will be at The Dairy Barn for at least ten months; this allows time for it to be photographed for the exhibition catalog. It will likely travel to additional venues for two years after the exhibition in Ohio.

  • Extras: The Dairy Barn hosts a weekend of events to support the opening reception, and this is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other artists. The organization also records video of each attending artist discussing their quilt, and those videos are shared online. Finally, a color catalog is published for each exhibition, and it is complimentary for participating artists.

Quilts=Art=Quilts

This annual show is organized by Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, New York.

  • Entry Fee: $35 for up to two entries

  • Kelly’s Notes: This show includes a wide range of styles and techniques, and organizers are actively working to recruit modern quilters. Exhibiting artists must provide hanging hardware for their quilts. Artwork can be listed for sale during the show, and Schweinfurth provides a comprehensive price list.

  • Jurying Process: Jurors are publicly announced. Typically, their deliberations only take a few weeks! Notification emails are sent shortly after the submission deadline.

  • Shipping: You pay for shipping to and from the exhibition.

  • Time Commitment: The show itself is just over two months long, and your quilt will be away from home for around three months altogether.

  • Extras: Schweinfurth hosts a weekend of events to support the opening reception, and this is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other artists. The organization also records video of each attending artist discussing their quilt, and those videos are shared online.

SAQA Global Exhibitions

SAQA organizes several theme-based global exhibitions each year. They usually premier at large events such as the International Quilt Festival in Houston or the European Patchwork Meeting, and then they travel around the world to various museums, galleries, and shows.

  • Entry Fee: $50 for up to three entries for SAQA members ($10 early bird discount)

  • Kelly’s Notes: SAQA doesn’t restrict the “age” of quilts for its exhibitions, so this is a great opportunity to showcase older work that fits the specified themes. Also, there is no minimum quilt size requirement, and quilts can be listed for sale. SAQA sometimes provides professional photography and/or videography of its exhibitions, and those materials are usually made available to participating artists. Artworks are also featured on SAQA’s website, along with detailed exhibition schedules. Communication from the global exhibition director is excellent.

  • Jurying Process: Jurors are publicly announced. After the submission deadline, it’s usually two to three months before notification emails are sent to entrants.

  • Shipping: You pay to ship your quilt to SAQA. The organization covers shipping between the various venues on the exhibition’s schedule, as well as return shipping back to you. That’s a great cost-saving measure, especially for international folks.

  • Time Commitment: These exhibitions have a long time commitment—usually three years!—but your quilt travels to numerous high-profile venues during that time. Just keep in mind it’s possible your quilt will “age out” of other exhibition opportunities while it’s traveling the world; you may want to prioritize older quilts rather than new work when considering possible submissions.

  • Extras: SAQA staff members review all submissions to help ensure your entry is complete and accurate; if not, they reach out to make any necessary corrections before the entry deadline. That, plus an early-bird discounted entry fee, is a good incentive to submit your work early! SAQA publishes a color catalog for each exhibition, which is complimentary for participating artists. Most exhibitions have opening events, which are a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other artists.

Whew! That’s a lot of exhibition opportunities.

And I didn’t even scratch the surface of everything available to quilters. There are many, many, MANY more local and regional exhibition calls out there! Recently, Curated Quilts published a list of U.S. quilt shows scheduled in 2023, and a quick Google search will turn up lots of additional art calls. Plus, pay attention to quilters whose work you admire and take note of the venues exhibiting their work.

If you submit to numerous shows, it pays to set up some sort of documentation and tracking system. I outlined my process in a previous blog post.

Now go get to it!

Kelly Spell
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