News…

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is announcing a call for entries for its annual juried quilt and wall hanging exhibition. The free summer-long exhibition, Quilts and Wall Hangings 2011, will be displayed in the Great Hall of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, Charleston, from May 24 through Sept. 6, 2011.

Quilts, both handmade or machine made, by West Virginia residents are eligible for the exhibition. First- ($750), second- ($400), and third-place ($300) awards will be made in the following categories: pieced quilts, appliqued quilts, quilts made with mixed/other techniques, and wall hangings. In addition, the Division will provide two Purchase Awards and add the quilt and wall hanging chosen to the collection of the West Virginia State Museum.

The judge also may award a Best of Show prize of $100. Honorable mention or other non-monetary awards will be given at the discretion of the judge. Quilts and wall hangings shown previously in a Division of Culture and History Quilts and Wall Hangings juried exhibition are not eligible.

In addition to the monetary awards, all winners will receive ribbons. Awards will be presented on Friday, May 27, in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theater of the Culture Center as part of the 35th annual Vandalia Gathering.

Entries must be postmarked no earlier than April 11 and no later than April 29, and arrive at the Culture Center by May 3. Hand-delivered entries will be accepted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 28-29. Each entrant may submit one quilt and one wall hanging, which must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of $20 for each entry.

For more information about Quilts and Wall Hangings 2011, or to request complete guidelines and entry forms for the exhibition, contact Betty Gay, exhibits coordinator for the Division, at (304) 558-0220, ext. 128. The prospectus also can be downloaded from the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts with Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary. The Division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the Division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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