Minnesota Handwork

Minnesota Handwork
A Celebration of Fiber Art in Minnesota during 2026

In honor of America 250, and as a site for Craft in America’s “Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026”, Textile Center will present Minnesota Handwork.

In 2026, Minnesota Handwork will celebrate the state’s proliferate fiber art history, emerging from and honoring tradition, and brimming with innovation. Handwork, as a universal carrier of artistic and cultural practice, connects Minnesotans and our region’s rich history through the common thread of textiles and fiber art. Building, expanding, healing, and bridging community, revering and sharing generational knowledge, acknowledging cultural practice, and celebrating tradition — these are the heart of fiber art practice and this project, connecting us through the handmade.

In celebration of fiber arts as one of the number one creative activities in Minnesota, exhibitions throughout 2026 will include curated, juried, and open call opportunities to honor both the traditional and contemporary aspects of fiber and textile arts in Minnesota. These exhibits will feature Minnesota Native artists and practitioners, disability-identity artists, the LQBTQ+ community, and guild and community artists–from emerging to accomplished. A public series of artist discussions will offer insights to the artists and the exhibitions throughout the course of the year.

Check back for additional activities as the project takes hold!