PADUCAH, Ky., July 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — The National Quilt Museum (http://www.quiltmuseum.org) recently participated in an International Creative Cities Workshop in Icheon, South Korea. The museum's exhibit showcased some examples of the world's best contemporary quilting and fiber art. The Creative Cities Network, of which Paducah is a proud member, is a program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
"The National Quilt Museum works to bring this wonderful artwork to audiences worldwide. We appreciate the opportunity to bring this work to Icheon, South Korea," says National Quilt Museum CEO Frank Bennett.
Joining Paducah for this event were seven other UNESCO Creative Cities: host city Icheon; Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; Fabriano, Italy; Hangzhou, China; Jingdezhen, China; Sasayama, Japan; and Suzhou, China. Each of these eight cities have been widely recognized as exceptional supporters of arts and crafts.
Icheon's mayor and city council president jointly kicked off the workshop, which ran from May 16 to 21. The opening program included an introduction to each city and its arts and crafts community. Following introductions, representatives exchanged stories and insights regarding their contributions to the workshop.
UNESCO launched the Creative Cities Network in 2004. Today, the network includes 116 cities in 54 countries. The network's mission is to foster dialogue and cooperation between cities that have prioritized creativity in their plans for sustainable urban development. Each member city works to promote its particular brand of creativity at the local level, while cooperating with other members at the international level. Members benefit tremendously from the resulting intercultural dialogue. Local artists and craftspeople enjoy new opportunities for presenting their creations to the world. Ultimately, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network enhances access to and participation in enriching cultural activities.
In addition to representing Paducah at the Creative Cities Workshop in Icheon, representatives of the National Quilt Museum also frequently give talks and contribute to panel discussions on matters related to quilting and fiber arts. For instance, Curator Judy Schwender recently traveled to Tokyo to speak at an event for contemporary quilters.
The National Quilt Museum is a global destination art museum that welcomes visitors from all 50 US states and over 40 foreign countries annually. In addition, to further its goal of sharing quilting with the world, the museum puts together traveling exhibits that are available for display in other museums and galleries.
About the National Quilt Museum
The National Quilt Museum is one of the largest and most visited quilt museum's in the world. The museum brings the work of today's quilters to new audiences worldwide. The museum is annually visited by art enthusiasts from all 50 U.S. states and over 40 foreign countries from all corners of the globe. The Museum's onsite and traveling exhibits are viewed by over 120,000 people per year. In addition, over 6,000 youth and adults participate in the Museum's educational opportunities on an annual basis.
The Museum's primary campus is at 215 Jefferson Street in Paducah, Kentucky. The Museum's mission is to, "Advance the art of today's quilters by making it accessible to new and expanding audiences worldwide." The National Quilt Museum is a five-time TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner. It is located in Historic Downtown Paducah Kentucky, which has been named a UNESCO Creative City.
Contact:
Frank Bennett, CEO
National Quilt Museum
270-442-8856
Email
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