On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about museum exhibitions with my guests Nora Palermo and Pam Weeks of the New England Quilt Museum.
Nora has served as Executive Director of the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts since 2013. Her broad experience in development for museums, cultural organizations and teaching hospitals brought a strategic approach to improving the NEQM’s finances and expanding its audience. With support from the Board of Directors and a committed group of volunteers, Nora has led a small professional team to overhaul its exhibitions and public programs, successfully engaging new and diverse audiences in the art and history of quiltmaking and textile arts.
And Pam is the Binney Family Curator at the New England Quilt Museum. Pam started making quilts as a result of the craft revival inspired by the Bicentennial in 1976. As the Binney Family Curator of the New England Quilt Museum, she works with many different quilters, collectors, institutions, and co-conspirators to plan exhibits for the museum, and research the quilts in the museum’s collection.
This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.
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The museum has a variety of different spaces to hang and display quilts.
I had the pleasure of taking a tour of the New England Quilt Museum before recording this episode with Pam and Nora in person. We begin this conversation by talking about the origins of the museum. Founded in 1987, it’s now housed in the former Lowell Institute for Savings building. We discuss the role that Lowell, Massachusetts, played in American textile history. Pam shares how many other similar museums that feature quilts and textiles exist in the US today.
The New England Quilt Museum’s library is one of the largest quilt libraries in the US.
Next, we talk about the definition of a quilt and how the exhibits at the museum are put together. If you’re interested in having your quilt displayed as part of an exhibit, you’ll learn how the contract works, including payment and terms of use. We touch on the museum’s permanent collection as well.
A recent talk at the museum was about an exhibit on copyright law for makers and artists.
We also discuss ways in which the museum has modernized over the years, including revamping and increasing the size of the gift shop, hosting events at the museum, and curating exhibits that include quilts with social and political themes.
Building out a robust museum gift shop was one of Nora’s projects.
And, of course, I ask Nora and Pam to recommend great stuff they’re enjoying right now.
Nora recommends:
- Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women by Angela Lomenzo
- Maria Callas: Sacred Monster by Stelios Galatopoulos
- Online art magazine and culture blog, Colossal
Pam recommends:
- The Haptic and Hue podcast
- Knitting a cat for her grandson from a pattern by Claire Garland
- Visiting the Manchester Water Works
If you live in Massachusetts or you’re visiting Boston, consider a trip to the New England Quilt Museum.