The National Quilting Association (NQA) exists to service the quilting community by holding quilt shows, offering teacher and judge certification programs and assisting quilters with a grant and scholarship program. It holds its annual quilt show in Columbus, Ohio.
The Quilting Quarterly, its national magazine, is published five times a year. Its mission statement says, "The National Quilting Association promotes the art, craft, and legacy of quilt making, encouraging high standards through education, preservation, and philanthropic endeavors."
History of the NQA
The National Quilting Association had humble beginnings, with just seven founding members. Their first quilt show was held in September of 1970 at the Greenbelt, Maryland Public Library.
Although their quilt shows have been situated at various locations across the country for years, in 2004 the corporate office was moved to Columbus, Ohio, and so the annual NQA show has been held in the Greater Columbus Convention Center ever since. Its first newsletter, the Patchwork Patter, was published in 1973, and has grown into a glossy full-color publication called The Quilting Quarterly. The NQA now boasts a membership of 5500 quilters from the United States and abroad, with over 200 chapters operating in 33 states.
The National Quilting Association's Programs
NQA offers many programs to assist quilters in their artistic endeavors. Two certification programs exist to ensure quality of quilt construction; a Teacher Certification program and a Judge Certification program. The teacher certification is awarded to those who demonstrate knowledge of basic quilting skills and can teach those skills to others. The judge certification is awarded to judges who can demonstrate basic quilting skills and can accurately evaluate others' work in terms of workmanship, color and design.
Both programs exist to set a consistent standard for quilt making. Lists of certified teachers and judges are available by state on the NQA website. The NQA also supports the education of quilters by a special award given to the "Teacher of the Year." Quilters can nominate their favorite quilt teacher for this honor.
NQA also offers a Master Quilt program, to recognize quilters who have mastered quilt making skills. Quilters submit their best work for evaluation. A committee of five NQA Certified Master Quilt Judges evaluates each quilt to see if it meets the criteria for a master quilt. Quilters who have demonstrated the ability to produce a Masterpiece quilt are invited to become members of the Master Quilt Guild to recognize their abilities.
The NQA generously awards grants through its annual grant program, to provide financial aid for educating quilt makers, research into historic documentation of quilt making or research on social history as it relates to quilt making. Grants can also be used for outreach to the community through quilt making.
The NQA's Annual Quilt Show
The annual NQA Quilt Show is in its 42nd year in 2011, featuring 400 judged quilts, lectures, classes, special exhibits and a vendor mall. Although the show has been held in many locations throughout the country, since 2004 it has been held in the C-pod of the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
National Quilting Day
The NQA sponsors National Quilting Day, which has been designated as the third Saturday in March. Members of the 22nd Annual Quilt Show in Lincoln, Nebraska, passed a resolution to officially sponsor this day, set aside not only as a celebration of quilt making, but of charity to others less fortunate. Many quilt guilds around the country use this day to make charity quilts, which are then donated to a favorite charity, such as ABC Quilts, Project Linus, or local homeless shelters. Others celebrate by getting together with their quilt making friends.
NQA Individual Membership
Membership into the National Quilting Association has the following benefits:
- Reduced fees for quilt show entries and classes;
- Five issues of The Quilting Quarterly magazine per year;
- Grant and Scholarship Program;
- Teacher Certification Program;
- Judge Certification Program;
- Master Quilt Program; and
- Course on Quilt Judging.
NQA Chapter Membership
Guilds can also apply for chapter membership in the National Quilting Association. Benefits for official Chapter membership include:
- Insurance coverage during a quilt show for both personal liability and the quilts;
- NQA ribbons to be awarded during a quilt show for !st, 2nd, 3rd, Honorable Mention, Viewer's Choice and Best of Show for a minimal cost;
- An official Charter and Seal;
- A copy of the NQA bylaws;
- A copy of The Quilting Quarterly magazine;
- A free announcement for your chapter's quilt show in The Quilting Quarterly; and
- The opportunity to publish your chapter's activities or programs in The Quilting Quarterly.
Lists of official chapters are available on the NQA website.
The National Quilting Association promotes excellence in quilting by certifying teachers and judges, hosting a national quilt show, publishing The Quilting Quarterly and numerous other activities. Its contribution to the world of quilting is evident through its promotion of the art, craft and legacy of quilt making.
Sources
- The Official website of The National Quilting Association, NQAQuilts.org. Accessed June 2011.
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