Join us on Saturday, June 6, from 6–9 PM at Current Space (421 Tyson Street, Baltimore) for an evening celebrating Baltimore through the art of quilting—equal parts history, storytelling, and creativity.

Since October 2025, we have invited quilters to submit their own tributes to Baltimore, interpreted however they wish. The results are as exciting and varied as the city itself: row homes and Arabber horses, nods to John Waters and Edgar Allan Poe, and everything in between. The exhibition brings together a mix of guild members, seasoned quiltmakers, and exciting newcomers—honoring both Baltimore’s long standing quilting traditions and its evolving creative community.

This project began in a 2025 UMBC co-lab course on Baltimore Album Quilts, where students partnered with Baltimore Heritage to produce a “Five Minute History”. Along the way, they worked closely with Hall of Fame quilter Mimi Dietrich, visited Baltimore City Hall, and studied quilts from the city’s landmark 1981 exhibition under Mayor William Donald Schaefer.

With the support of the Mayor Brandon Scott’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment (MOACE), we decided—45 years later—to bring the competition back. And it has been a joy.

We will exhibit quilts from the 1981 competition alongside the top 15 finalists from the 2026 competition. The attached flyer features close up images from all 52 submissions.

Awards will be announced during the evening:

• First Place: $5,000
• Second Place: $2,000
• Third Place: $1,500
• Two Honorable Mentions: $500 each

A Viewer’s Choice Award ($500) will be determined by the gallery visitors and announced at the exhibition’s closing on July 19.

The event is sponsored by MOACE, Maryland State Arts Council, Maryland Folklife Network, and the Orser Center for Public Humanities at UMBC. Special thanks to our jurors, Mimi Dietrich, Dr. Christa Gilliam, and Monique Crabb.

We hope you’ll join us for this fun and meaningful showcase. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP here by May 15 (not necessary, but helpful).