Welcome to the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.'s (HGA) Session Proposal process for the 2028 Convergence®. The conference location will be announced by fall of 2026. 

The Handweavers Guild of America’s (HGA) mission is to educate, support, and inspire the fiber art community. Every other year we host Convergence®, our biennial international fiber arts conference that attracts more than 1,500 participants for a multi-faceted experience with exhibitions, shopping, fashion show, tours, workshops, seminars, lectures, and more. At the heart of the Convergence® conference are the Sessions, taught by the world’s leading fiber arts instructors and those who are up-and-coming in the field. 

Convergence® Sessions are offered in the following formats:

• 90-Minute Seminars are generally an oral session in a lecture format or a very simple project. Seminars usually require the participant to bring minimal supplies such as pen and paper and generally have no materials fee.
• 3-Hour Seminars/Workshops are either an in-depth lecture or an introductory hands-on “how-to” course designed to give participants skills or knowledge to take back and implement at home.
• 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day Workshops offer 6, 12, or 18 hours of in-depth exploration of the subject matter with hands-on instruction. Workshops may require pre-conference preparation by the participant. Workshops will have limited enrollment to provide participants with a more engaging experience. Note: HGA accepts a limited number of 3-Day Workshops.

What kinds of Sessions are we looking for?

HGA seeks a diverse range of Session proposals reflecting the richness and evolving landscape of fiber art. We welcome beginner through advanced offerings, from traditional techniques to innovative, interdisciplinary, and engaging experiences for Convergence® participants.

With approximately 65% of attendees returning, we especially encourage fresh concepts, advanced explorations, and in-depth learning opportunities. Many participants are experienced makers, educators, and lifelong learners seeking meaningful skill development, creative inspiration, and specialized knowledge not readily available in their local communities.

Things to Consider When Developing Your Proposal

• Offer strong value for attendees. Participants invest significant time and expense to attend Convergence®, so Sessions that provide substantial learning, meaningful hands-on experience, specialized expertise, or a tangible takeaway tend to resonate most strongly.
• Offer depth and fresh perspective. Many attendees already have intermediate or advanced fiber experience, and some are instructors themselves. Sessions that provide focused, in-depth exploration of a concept, process, material, or creative challenge tend to be especially compelling.
• Highlight what makes your Session unique. Strong proposals explain why the topic is relevant, what participants will learn, the intended experience level, and what makes your approach or perspective especially valuable and engaging for attendees.
• Consider what attendees cannot easily learn elsewhere.   Innovative and cross-disciplinary proposals are encouraged, especially those that connect fiber practices with contemporary conversations or offer specialized techniques, unique materials, personal artistic processes, culturally grounded practices, or other knowledge not widely accessible through online tutorials or local guild programming.
• Be realistic about timing and scope.   Successful Sessions have clear learning goals that can realistically be accomplished within the allotted timeframe without feeling rushed or overloaded. 
• Think carefully about materials and logistics.   Sessions that minimize excessive travel burdens, shipping challenges, or difficult setup requirements are often more accessible to attendees traveling long distances. 

Instructor Policies & Session Guidelines

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Proposed Sessions will be evaluated based on overall quality, relevance to the industry, well-defined focus and objectives, practical applications of the material, relevance and timeliness of the topic, originality of material, hands-on learning for immediate application, educator qualifications (including the level of speaking experience and expertise), and competition as compared to other proposals. Each Session must be educational. Sessions to advertise a program, product, or service for sale is unacceptable. Convergence® Instructors 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 Convergence®. However, please keep in mind that by doing so you may dilute the number of participants in your Convergence® Session. Low enrollment may lead to cancellation.   

Enrollment Expectations

HGA requires Instructors to accept a minimum of 16 students per Session, however, HGA reserves the right to run a Session should enrollment fall below. Sessions with 20 or more students may request assistance from a Convergence® Intern provided it is requested with the proposal.   

Convergence® Intern Support

These students are currently enrolled in accredited fiber arts programs at the undergraduate or graduate level. The program is designed to assist with career development by providing real work experiences that provide students with opportunities to explore their interests and develop professional skills and competencies while providing the Instructor with a capable assistant to help manage a larger enrollment in their Session. HGA strongly encourages participation in this program.   

Technology & WiFi

Please note that HGA does not provide internet service for Convergence® Sessions as it is cost-prohibitive. We recognize the role that technology can play in presenting information. While we would like to provide internet access and fulfill the technical equipment needs of our Convergence® Instructors, we are not in a position to do so. Some conference facilities may offer free WiFi, but reliability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact the HGA office for more information about availability prior to submitting a proposal.   

Supplies and Equipment

These items must be requested in your proposal. HGA will provide static-cling dry-erase boards (size may vary) and projector screens or a white space to project upon. HGA does not provide projectors. For a full list of equipment provided by HGA (such as dye pots, sewing machines, etc.), please refer to the application. Supplies and equipment brought by the Instructor may be shipped in advance to the conference Decorator. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the Convergence® Instructor. Upon selection of your Session and signing of the Convergence® Instructor Agreement, HGA will provide shipping instructions and a fee schedule.         

Materials Fees & Sales Policies

Digital handouts, shared with Session participants in advance, are encouraged. Convergence® Instructors may charge a materials fee for items they provide to their participants such as printed booklets, fiber, beads, dyes, etc. Please ensure that these fees are reasonable. Higher materials fees often dissuade registration. Convergence® Instructors may not sell additional supplies, publications, or handcrafted items in the classroom or the public areas of the conference. HGA suggests Instructors connect with Convergence® vendors to arrange for sales. HGA will also work with Instructors to provide a scheduled and advertised time in the HGA Instructors booth where a Instructors may sell these items if they prefer to sell directly to participants.   

Membership Requirements

All Convergence® Instructors must be or become HGA members upon receiving notification of proposal acceptance and must maintain membership through Convergence®. Memberships start at $57/year (subject to change). If more than one proposal is accepted, HGA will do its best to schedule your Sessions concurrently. When this is not possible, you may be eligible for additional hotel compensation.

Instructor Compensation & Benefits

• Honoraria will be paid at a rate of $120 per hour of instruction ($180 for a 90-Minute Seminar; $360 for a 3-Hour Seminar; $720 for a 1-Day Workshop; $1,440 for a 2-Day Workshop; and $2,160 for a 3-Day Workshop). All Sessions will require a minimum of no less than 12 registered students or they will be subject to cancellation. Honoraria will be adjusted from the hourly rate to a per-student rate for Workshop Sessions with 5 to 11 registered students: $60 per student for a 1-Day Workshop, $120 per student for a 2-Day Workshop, and $180 per student for a 3-Day Workshop.
• Travel Reimbursement of $75 for every three (3) hours of instruction (not to exceed $750) for any Instructors residing 120 miles or more from the conference site. Instructors are responsible for arranging their own travel.
• Hotel Compensation will be paid directly to a Convergence® Hotel by HGA and will be provided at half (1⁄2) the cost (or 50% of the cost) of a double/double room night at the blocked room rate at a Convergence® Hotel under the following schedule. Instructors are responsible for making their own Convergence® hotel reservation and securing a roommate. Instructors are responsible for any miscellaneous fees and services (e.g. food, movies, parking, room service, etc.).       

3-6 Class Hours of Instruction... Two (2) Nights at 50%    

7-12 Class Hours of Instruction... Three (3) Nights at 50%    

13-18 Class Hours of Instruction... Four (4) Nights at 50%    

19-24 Class Hours of Instruction... Five (5) Nights at 50%    

25 or More Class Hours of Instruction... Six (6) Nights at 50%

• Complimentary Convergence® Value Package Conference Registration, includes daily admission to the Marketplace, Demonstrations, Panels, and Art Exhibits; 1 ticket to the Fashion Show; 1 ticket to the Keynote Speaker; an HGA Tote Bag; and discounted session registration.

How To Apply

If you do not already have a Submittable account, you will be prompted to create a free account. Click on "continue" at the bottom of this screen, and then choose the "create account". You CANNOT log into Submittable using your Handweavers Guild of America member credentials. After you have created your account and logged in, please click on the original submission link from your payment confirmation email. This should open a new window where you will now have access to the submission form. After filling out all required field, click submit at the bottom of the page.

For a video tutorial please click here