About APWQ

Mission Statement

The Association of Pacific West Quilters (APWQ) promotes the art of quiltmaking and encourages and rewards quiltmakers in the greater western regions of the U.S. and Canada. APWQ presents juried and judged quilt exhibitions and seeks to provide quilt-related enrichment programs for the community of quilters and the public.

Value Statement

We value:

  •  Quiltmaking as an art form
  •  Excellence in quiltmaking
  •  The traditions of the past and the opportunities of the future
  •  The essential contributions of volunteers

History

In 1992 a small group of volunteers from the Puget Sound area, the Olympic Peninsula and eastern Washington formed the “Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters.” The association's objective was to present the first juried and judged international competition among quilters of Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

These visionaries recognized that this region is home to thousands of quilting enthusiasts and a proliferation of companies that support a nationwide, billion-dollar quilting industry. Building on this solid support for quiltmaking, the founders of APNQ created the organization to showcase quilts and reward their makers at a venue within the region. The 1994 Great Pacific Northwest Quilt Show, held at the Seattle Center's Northwest Rooms, was the first juried and judged competition among quiltmakers of the Pacific Northwest and western Canada.

In August of 2011, over 6,000 people attended the Pacific West Quilt Show at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, Tacoma, WA.  This was the first year that the show moved to an annual cycle.

2012 marks the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the Association.

Expansion

Following several biennial shows drawing from the original seven states and provinces, the region covered by APNQ began to expand, first with the addition of two Canadian territories, Yukon in 1998 and the Northwest Territories in 2000 and the province of Saskatchewan in the fall of 2008. The biggest changes in the organization since its founding came in 2009, when Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming were added to APNQ’s territory, and the organization was renamed the Association of Pacific West Quilters (APWQ), to reflect the new community.

Activities

The annual Pacific West Quilt Show is the principle activity of APWQ as it strives to provide this impressive venue and competition for quilts across the region.

Membership

You don't have to quilt to join APWQ; membership is open to all who look to support quiltmaking and the quilting arts. While entry submission for the quilt show is restricted to legal residents of Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northwest Territories, Oregon, Saskatchewan, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Yukon, all other benefits of membership are available to any who wish to join. To learn more about APWQ membership, go to the Membership page.