The Textile Society of America’s Affinity Groups provide a forum to connect with others in the textiles field with similar interests. These virtual meetings are hosted on Zoom by the Textile Society of America. Group leaders facilitate informal conversations based around their group’s topic. Leaders may invite members of the group, or topic experts, to give short presentations as a launch point for discussion. In very large groups, members may split off into small breakout groups for easier connection. Groups meet on a regular schedule; once a month, every two months, or once a quarter. Each affinity group is unique, and may shift its schedule or meeting structure to fit the needs of its members.
Affinity group participation is not limited to TSA members. We encourage you to use them as a way to meet TSA members and find out more about the organization. Invite a friend or colleague who may be interested, too.
If there is an Affinity Group topic that you would like to see, we welcome proposals from potential group leaders. Please contact info@textilesocietyofamerica.org.
Sign Up for Group Updates
If you would like to join one of TSA’s Affinity Groups, please use the form below. You will receive meeting invitations and updates for the group(s) of your choice. Read group descriptions below the form.
You can also view upcoming Affinity Group meetings on our Event List.
Current Affinity Group Topics
The Craft Economy
Group Leaders: Lesli Robertson, Mimi Robinson
The Craft Economy affinity group is for those engaged in creating economic opportunities for handmade objects and their makers. We look forward to bringing together those involved both domestically and internationally as makers/artisans, businesses, and organizations who are engaged with the promotion and work of handmade objects from around the world. We hope this group will be a community where we can have conversations, exchange ideas, get to know one another, and generate support as we all navigate new directions in our practices and businesses.
Emerging Artists, Professionals, and Scholars
Group Leaders: Caroline Kipp and Inga Adda
The Emerging Artists, Professionals, and Scholars affinity group brings together those who are new to the field of textiles. Whether you’ve recently graduated from a fine arts program, design, fashion, conservation, art history, or apprenticeship, this group is for you. We seek to create a network of mutual support, mentorship, and continued education to help navigate your early professional career. This group features invited artists and working professionals to speak directly about their experience and advice in developing a career in the textile field. Non-TSA members are encouraged to participate as well as current TSA members. As a nascent group, your participation will fundamentally shape and develop the offerings and future of this organization.
Historic and Ancient Textiles
Group Leaders: Ann H. Peters, Lee Talbot
The Historic and Ancient Textiles affinity group brings together people engaged in research on heritage textiles, including those recovered archaeologically, held in the collection of a community, university or museum.
Stitching
Group Leaders: Kat Diuguid, Lindsay Olson
We want to stitch with you! Join us for this informal meeting to socialize with other TSA members whose work focuses on stitching either in their artistic practice or research. During the first hour, a TSA member guest will share their work with the group in an informal share and discuss format. The second hour will allow for open discussion in the group. We want to meet other TSA members that are passionate about stitching and hope for the opportunity to informally socialize and share current projects. Stitch-enthusiasts that are not yet TSA members are welcome to join to learn more about our featured guest and to participate in the discussions.
Textile Preservation and Conservation
Group Leaders: Annabelle Camp and Kris Cnossen
This group is designed to support conservators, collections care professionals, artists, curators, and any other textile-related professionals who are committed to the long term preservation of textiles. We hope to create a gathering place and educational space where any textile enthusiast can learn more about ways to preserve textiles for future generations. We hope to host events that will highlight current conservation work, address the effects of material choice on long term preservation, and generally promote the preservation of textile collections by all stakeholders. (Photo by Annabelle Camp with permission of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
Textiles x Science
Group Leaders: Maggie D’Aversa, Isaac Facio, Lindsay Olson, Elizabeth Pope
Inviting scientists, technologists and interdisciplinarians in the study of materials to collaborate with members of the Textile Society of America. We seek to foster scholarship, fellowship and creative growth through listening and observing each other’s practices.
Inspired by the fundamental traits and properties that make up the micro and macro structures of textiles– its fiber spin, cloth form, shape, and function– we are gathering to identify overlapping themes that lead to innovative solutions in technology, sciences, engineering and textile specialties. The idea is to share and discuss our own work such that we can discover and develop projects based on that intersection of knowledge and exploration. From this exploration we will discover previously unidentified mutual exposures in textiles that may lead to the possibility of new works of benefit through functional, technical and artistic approaches. It is in the blend of disciplines that the most innovative, pleasing and relevant work resides and we believe that these discoveries lie in the intersection of disciplines.
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