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Museum of the American Quilter’s Society
The Museum of the American Quilter’s Society (MAQS) is a nonprofit charitable institution established to educate the local, national, and international public about the art, history, and heritage of quiltmaking.
The museum, which opened in 1991, was founded by Bill and Meredith Schroeder of Paducah, KY. The Schroeders became interested in quilting in 1983. After attending several quilt shows, they decided they wanted to bring attention to the extraordinary work of contemporary quiltmakers and established the American Quilter’s Society as a new division of their publishing business, Schroeder Publishing. The first AQS Quilt Show and Contest was held in Paducah in 1985; the first issue of American Quilter magazine also was published in that year. The Schroeder family supported the design and construction of the facility that houses the MAQS in downtown Paducah. A separate nonprofit corporation governed by a board of directors was established to operate the museum.
Today the museum’s permanent collection includes more than 250 quilts created by the world’s top contemporary quilters. The annual show and contest attract more than 30,000 visitors each spring.
The MAQS offers many activities and programs for schools. Curriculum-oriented school tours are offered for elementary through high school grades, and the museum conducts students’ and educators’ workshops. The annual School Block challenge sponsored by Moda Fabrics and MAQS invites students to use their math skills and creativity to create quilt blocks for an exhibit and contest. The museum also rents a slide show designed to foster awareness of quiltmaking and make gallery collections accessible to a broad audience. It is circulated for a minimal fee to educational institutions, community groups, and individuals throughout the United States. The show, which takes approximately an hour to view, highlights the establishment of the MAQS and provides a colorful introduction to contemporary quilts and quiltmaking.
For more information about the MAQS, its collection, and its education programs, contact:
- Museum of the American Quilter’s Society
215 Jefferson St.
Paducah, KY 42001
(270) 442-8856
(270) 442-5448 (fax)
The MAQS has an extensive web site [www.quiltmuseum.org] with information, images of its collection, workshop and education offerings, contest information, and related links.