Guilds comprise an organizational network that is beautifully positioned to reach out to new weavers and help sustain the craft. To encourage these important activities for the past six years, Handwoven offers $1,000 in cash awards annually.

In 2009, Handwoven will design the award system a little differently. One $500 FiberHearts award will be awarded to a guild—large or small—that demonstrates outstanding recruitment and retention programs for new weavers.

The FUZ-E Award

We will also offer also a new award for 2009! The FUZ-E award (the FiberHearts Undeniable Zingy event). An additional $500 will be awarded to a guild—large or small—that accomplishes or plans the most successful or potentially successful publicity event/stunt. A demonstration at a local library is one example of an activity designed to generate publicity for your guild and the craft of weaving. What if you added a faux sheep-shearing to that demonstration? How would that improve your ability to attract new weavers?

We know guilds are guilds are built around creativity and ingenuity. We want to hear about your successes so that we can share them with others. The stunt/event can be something that has already occurred or that you have detailed plans to accomplish. Our goal is to encourage guilds to think outside the box when it comes to outreach and infuse a little fun into the award process.

(We are leading by example. Interweave is based in Loveland, Colorado. We are working with our local arts council to dress the bronze statues that grace our public places in handwoven scarves during Spinning and Weaving Week. Each scarf will have information about where you can learn to weave. We will then donate those scarves to charity.)

Industry Partners

In addition to cash award, Handwoven has once again teamed up with industry partners to broaden the reach of the FiberHearts award. On behalf of our partners, we will award guilds that demonstrate a need for portable equipment such as frame, inkle, and table looms.

Here are this year’s partners and what they are offering: Bountiful (inkle loom), Kessenich Looms (table loom), Louet (new! Jane table loom), Golding Fiber Tools (bobbin winder), Good Wood Looms (frame loom), Halcyon Yarn (50 skeins/mini-cones of any selection of their Signature Yarns), J K Seidel Looms, Schacht Spindle Company (new! Cricket rigid heddle loom), and Weaving A Life (Journey Loom).

The winning guilds will have their programs featured in Handwoven. All applicants will receive a copy of Learning to Weave for their guild library. To apply for the award, please include a cover letter, complete the coversheet, and write a two-page essay as outlined below. Attach to your application any press clippings or other support materials (brochures, press releases, etc.) regarding your guilds activities that you would like to share. Please photocopy the clipping and/or support materials on 8 by 11 ½ inch paper and limit the clippings or other support materials to five pages. Handwoven will retain all application materials. Applications are due May 1, 2009. Applicants will notified by May 29.

Essay Guidelines—Please make sure to cover the following points in your two-page essay:

• What do you do to promote weaving in the community?
• What do you do to recruit and hold new members?
• What would you do with an award of cash or new equipment?
• If applying for the FUZ-E award please include a detailed report of how your event generated publicity for your guild and the craft of handweaving including the potential number of people exposed to the weaving event. and press coverage.

Only complete applications that arrive by May 1, 2009, will be considered. Applications must include a cover letter, applications worksheet, and two-page essay. Press clippings are optional. Please send your application to FiberHearts C/O Interweave Press, 201 E. 4th St., Loveland, CO 80537. For more information contact Liz Gipson at or (970) 613-4629.

FiberHearts Application Worksheet