The American Tapestry Alliance (ATA) is engaged in a wide range of educational, exhibition, outreach and promotional programs. Our programs serve the goals of our Mission Statement:
- to promote an awareness of and appreciation for woven tapestries designed and woven by individual artists
- to establish, perpetuate and recognize superior quality tapestries by artists world-wide
- to encourage educational opportunities in the field of tapestry
- to coordinate exhibitions of tapestries to establish a professional networking system for tapestry designers and weavers throughout the world
- to educate the public about the history and techniques involved in tapestry making
Archives
ATA supports documenting the history of contemporary tapestry through its archive. The Library Committee oversees an archive of catalogs, slides, newsletters, and other documents.
Artist Pages
In 2004, ATA initiated the Artist Pages program, an online portfolio of artist’s work. Click here to see the Artist Pages. Submission guidelines.
Awards
ATA Award for Excellence
The American Tapestry Alliance Award for Excellence in Tapestry was established to recognize weavers who pursue tapestry with the intention of achieving excellence in design, creative imagery, technical execution and the usage of color. Information.
ATA International Student Award
The American Tapestry Alliance has created the ATA International Student Award to encourage study in the field in a college fiber program at the undergraduate or graduate level. The award consists of $250 and a year’s student membership in the American Tapestry Alliance. The winner’s work will be featured in the ATA quarterly newsletter, Tapestry Topics. Information.
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ATA Scholarship for Tapestry Study
This scholarship is for any American Tapestry Alliance member who wishes to pursue study in the field of tapestry weaving. (Not an ATA member? Join here.) The application may be for study in workshops, courses, study with individual tutors or institutions of higher learning. A Scholarship Committee will determine the number of awards granted, and the amount of the awards. Full funding of an application is not guaranteed. The American Tapestry Alliance reserves the right to withhold the award in any given year. Information.
Teitelbaum Awards
The Teitelbaum Awards are monetary awards that are presented to two artists accepted into American Tapestry Biennial and Small Tapestry International. The juror for the show determines the recipients of the award. The Teitelbaum Awards are made possible by a generous grant from the Teitelbaum Trust legacy gift to ATA. Information.
Education
Tapestry Instruction: Distance Learning
The Distance Learning program is designed for intermediate tapestry weavers who want to pursue an in depth study of a tapestry topic with guidance and mentoring from a more experienced tapestry weaver. An intermediate weaver is defined as someone who can warp a loom and who has woven several small tapestries or samplers. This is meant to be a self directed and well-defined program of study. Students are encouraged to narrow the range of study so that it can be completed within one year. The student must be an ATA Circle member. Description and contact information.
Tapestry Instruction: Helping Hands
The Helping Hands program is designed for beginning tapestry weavers who want to explore tapestry with the guidance and mentoring of a more experienced tapestry weaver. A beginning weaver is defined as someone who has little experience or one who has completed an introductory level workshop. This program will introduce students to warping a loom, shape building, warp and weft balance, and beginning cartoon development. The student must be an ATA Circle member. Find a full description and contact information here.
Educational Articles
Educational Articles are hosted on ATA’s website. Covering a variety of topics, they feature the work and writing of a variety of artists around the world. See the current Educational Article.
Workshops
ATA sponsors workshops in most odd numbered years. The workshops feature talented tapestry weavers with teaching experience. Information.
Convergence and Members Retreat
In even numbered years ATA sponsors a forum at HGA’s Convergence. The forum typically includes two speakers and an open digislam of tapestry artists’ work. The forum is open to all. ATA’s Member’s Retreat follows Convergence and includes workshops with talented, experienced tapestry weavers with extensive teaching experience. The retreat is usually held on a college campus with room and board options. In addition, ATA sponsors a networking event at Convergence, open to all. Information.
ATA Forums
ATA sponsors both Open Discussion Forums and Focus Forums. Open discussion forums offer opportunities to engage in interactive conversations on a variety of subjects. Focus Forums center on a particular subject explored in depth, such as specific techniques, design, artistic trends and other artistic concerns. For more information, please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required.
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Other Education Programs
ATA collaborates with other organizations to offer educational programming, for example, Speakers Sessions at the Textile Society of America’s Symposium and artist lectures held in conjunction with ATA’s show venues.
Exhibitions
American Tapestry Biennial and Small Tapestry International
ATA sponsors two international juried exhibitions: American Tapestry Biennial and Small Tapestry International. These shows highlight the best of international contemporary hand woven tapestry. They provide opportunities in the field by: setting high standards of excellence; touring across North America; triggering articles; and offering a catalog with critical essays. ATA’s shows draw excellent attendance to the host museums and art centers.
Unjuried Small Format Show
The Unjuried Small Format Show is held every two years in conjunction with the Handweavers Guild of America’s symposium, Convergence. This extremely popular show receives entries from artists around the world and is documented through a catalog.
TEx@ATA
TEx@ATA (Tapestry Exhibitions@ATA) offers a variety of shows based on a theme, or on presenting the work of a single artist. These shows are curated by a person who develops the idea for the show and works with the artists whose work will be shown. Two or three Web Exhibitions are mounted each year.
Newsletters
Tapestry Topics
ATA publishes a Quarterly Newsletter, Tapestry Topics. The issues feature a theme and contributions come from a wide variety of writers, both ATA members and non members. More information.
eNews
A monthly update of current ATA news delivered via email.
eKudos
A monthly listing of shows, awards, etc submitted by members delivered via email.
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