Spinning & Weaving Week is an international celebration of the craft that takes place annually the first week of October (October 5 - 11, 2026).
The Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.’s (HGA) mission is to educate, support, and inspire the fiber art community. One of the ways we do this is with our virtualSpinning & Weaving Week Celebration attracting hundreds of participants for panels, talks, shopping, fashion show, tours, networking events, and more. Art Sparks Sessions are taught by the world’s leading fiber arts instructors as well as those that are up-and-coming in the field, known as Leaders.
Art Sparks Sessions will be sample classes or mini-workshops. They cover a hyper-specific topic and are often used to introduce participants to a new art form, technique, or equipment. They might be repurposed content or a unit from a larger online course. Art Sparks Sessions will be offered in 30-minute and 1-hour segments.
HGA seeks a diverse selection of proposals. We are looking to offer our participants a variety of topics to choose from including traditional fiber arts experiences and Sessions that are new, innovative, and unique. Being that these Sessions will be taught online, participants will be learning from their homes from around the world. When planning your Session, please remember the restrictions that teaching online may impose on participants’ ability to participate in your proposed Session. These sessions are webinar-style, meaning you will not see the participants face-to-face, but will be able to interact via Q&A.
Rules
Proposed Sessions will be evaluated based on overall quality, relevance to the industry, well- defined focus and objectives, practical applications of material, relevance and timeliness of the topic, originality of material, hands-on learning for immediate application, and educator qualifications (including level of speaking experience and expertise). Each Session must be educational. Sessions to advertise a program, product, or service for sale are unacceptable. Leaders are expected to comply with copyright law in selecting materials and images for their Sessions and are responsible for their permission of use in HGA’s marketing materials.
Non-Compete
HGA does not impose any restrictions on teaching the same Session outside of Spinning & Weaving Week. However, please keep in mind that by doing so you may dilute the number of participants in your Session. Low enrollment may lead to cancellation.
Enrollment
All Sessions will require a minimum of 5 registered participants or they will be subject to cancellation. (from payment section)
Technology
Leaders should have a solid internet connection, good lighting, and a clear microphone. Professional equipment greater than a laptop camera and mic is recommended but not required. HGA’s Spinning & Weaving Week is presented on the Cvent platform and uses Zoom for its Sessions. All Leaders will be required to participate in a brief training 1-2 weeks prior to Spinning & Weaving Week.
Materials and Sales
Complimentary digital handouts (worksheets, written instructions, diagrams, drafts, etc.), shared with Session participants in advance, are encouraged. These may be attached to the Session for the participant to download. Leaders may offer participants an optional materials kit that compliments the Session and may include things such as printed booklets, fiber, beads, dyes, etc. The kits should be optional, and participants should not feel excluded from the Session if they do not purchase the kit. Please ensure that fees for materials kits are reasonable. Higher materials fees often dissuade registration. Leaders may not sell additional supplies, publications, or handcrafted items in the Session.
Recording
All Art Sparks Sessions are recorded and available to view on the Cvent platform by registered participants for 90 days following Spinning & Weaving Week. Participants will not be able to download the recording, but because Sessions are recorded, it is to be expected that many participants will choose to watch a recorded Session instead of participating in real time.
Scheduling
Sessions will be offered Monday – Sunday between the hours of 10 AM and 9 PM Eastern Time. Sessions will be scheduled based on the availability of the Leader per their application. HGA will do its best to minimize conflicts with other Sessions, but due to the format of the program it is expected that Sessions will run concurrently.
Membership
All Spinning & Weaving Week Leaders must be or become HGA members upon receiving notification of proposal acceptance and must maintain membership through the Spinning & Weaving Week Celebration.
Leader Compensation
1. Honoraria will be paid at a rate of $50 per 30-minutes of instruction ($50 for a 30-Minute Session and $100 for a 1-Hour Session). All Sessions will require a minimum of 5 registered participants or they will be subject to cancellation.
2. Complimentary Spinning & Weaving Week Registration includes daily admission to the Marketplace LIVE, Panels, Thread Talks, Studio Tours and Fashion Show.
If you have any questions before submitting, please feel free to contact us at (678) 730-0010 or HGA@WeaveSpinDye.org
Description
The Handweavers Guild of America, Inc. (HGA) offers two scholarships (HGA and Dendel) for students enrolled in accredited academic programs in the United States and Canada. The scholarships fund students furthering their education in the field of fiber arts, including textile research, history, and conservation. Rather than financial need, scholarship funds are awarded based on artistic and technical excellence and/or on demonstrated excellence in research of textiles, textile history, and textile conservation.
Scholarship funds of $4,000 or more are awarded annually for the academic year.
HGA Scholarship
HGA Scholarship funds can only be applied toward tuition and is open to applicants that fall into one of two categories:
- artistic merit or
- scholarly research in the fiber arts/textile industry
The artistic merit category is recommended for those applicants focused on producing advanced, artistic textile artwork.
The scholarly research category is recommended for those applicants focused more on textile art education, textile conservation, textile history, etc.
ELIGIBILITY
- Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate fiber arts academic program in the United States or Canada.
- Scholarship funds will only be applied toward expenses directly tied to your study at the accredited institution in which you are currently enrolled. Scholarship funds can not be applied to an independent workshop.
- Only one scholarship is awarded per individual per year.
- Applicants are not required to be members of HGA.
- Application and all support materials must be received on or before the May 1st deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Description
The Handweavers Guild of America, Inc. (HGA) offers two scholarships (HGA and the Dendel) for students enrolled in accredited academic programs in the United States and Canada. The scholarships fund students furthering their education in the field of fiber arts, including textile research, history, and conservation. Rather than financial need, scholarship funds are awarded based on artistic and technical excellence and/or on demonstrated excellence in research of textiles, textile history, and textile conservation.
Scholarship funds of $4,000 or more are awarded annually for the academic year.
Dendel Scholarship
The Dendel Scholarship is made possible by a generous donation in honor of the late Gerald and Esther Dendel to foster studies in handweaving.
Dendel Scholarship funds can be used for tuition as well as materials or travel determined on a case-by-case basis. Applicants will be judged on their skill and dedication to handweaving.
ELIGIBILITY
- Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate fiber arts academic program in the United States or Canada.
- Scholarship funds will only be applied toward expenses directly tied to your study at the accredited institution in which you are currently enrolled. Scholarship funds can not be applied to an independent workshop.
- Only one scholarship is awarded per individual per year.
- Applicants are not required to be members of HGA.
- Application and all support materials must be received on or before the May 1st deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.