Hello fellow quilters…
Even with 2020 vision it’s hard to see how we can present our Island Quilts this year!
The IQ team has worked extremely hard over the last few months trying to keep the project alive but unfortunately, events have overrun us.
The decision to cancel our Island Quilts 2020 exhibition has been made after every other consideration.
Escalating issues in Victoria support a growing consensus that Craft Alive will be unable to present an event in Hobart.
The viability of our ‘Plan B option’ of a judged and on-line only exhibition, was greatly impacted by Bernina’s sponsorship decision last week, that they will postpone sponsorship for 2020 (Australia wide) and hold over the Bernina 2019 Best of Show quilts for judging in 2021.
Without the credential of the national competition and Bernina’s financial support it was reasoned that there would be little appetite for the Plan B option (on-line only) amongst members, and subsequently a reduction in number and quality of entries.
Considering the return on investment of hard costs and member resourcing for judging, photography etc; and compromised revenues from raffle sales and entry fees; we opted to cancel and, to quote one member of the team
‘to go bigger and better next year’
But it’s not all bad news! The IQ team have set up online entry, so we have plenty of time to practice for next year. The TQG website has been updated and is being populated with our guild stories, and we have new social media strategies planned to keep members engaged and informed.
So for now…
Happy Quilting
Yvette Gilligan
President
Tasmanian Quilting Guild
