Find all upcoming Outreach events on the calendar HERE.
An important part of the Guild’s mission is to educate the public about fiber arts, and one of the ways we do that is through fiber arts demonstrations at various festivals and fairs. These are opportunities to bring out your wheel, portable loom, knitting, or any other fiber art that you enjoy, and share your love of your craft with others!
For anyone new to demonstrating, here are some details that may help you in deciding if you’d like to join in:
- You only need to bring whatever you would like to work on and show to the passing visitors at the events! We (the core outreach volunteers) will be responsible for all of the set up and take down. Sometimes a few people will volunteer to come early or stay late to help (and you know who you are…thank you, thank you!!) but it’s not required. If you have a comfortable folding chair you like, feel free to bring it.
- You don’t have to stay the whole day! If an event is all day, we usually ask volunteers to sign up for a half day shift. You would be welcome to demo the whole day, but again, it isn’t required. We want you to have as much fun at an event as the visitors we are demonstrating for. If you decide to hang out all day, you will have the flexibility to demo for a while, go and enjoy the event, then come back and demo some more.
- Be prepared to do plenty of explaining! Outreach is part of our mission to educate the public about the fiber arts, and as a demonstrator you will be asked plenty of questions. You don’t have to be an “expert,” you know more about your fiber craft than most of the visitors do, so just share that with them.
- You don’t need to wear period clothing! There are currently no events where we are expected to dress in anything other than our normal everyday clothes.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. We want to help you have a great experience!
We use SignUpGenius to help us organize volunteers. The logistics of where to park or unload equipment, as well as any other event specific information will be emailed to volunteers a few days before the event. The fair has an entry fee but if you are on the list as a volunteer, the fee is waived.
Some of the events we typically participate in are listed below. If you’d like to volunteer, please email outreach@cvfg.org.
Highland Sheep Shearing
Usually mid-April to early May, at James Monroe’s Highland near Charlottesville. This is an outdoor event under a tent, very low key but fun! The organizers are very flexible and love for us to be there!
Albemarle County Fair
Usually late-July to early-August, at Highland, near Charlottesville. The fair actually runs from 4–9 pm on Thursday and 10–9 on Friday and Saturday. We usually only demo until 7 or 8 pm depending how busy it is. They have an air conditioned building we will be set up in which is wonderful in the heat of summer. We bring a full setup with a loom or two, spindles, hand cards, fiber, a children’s hands-on activity (it usually involves wool and glue), as well as volunteers at their wheels or loom, showing how it’s done.
Outreach at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library
These events are scheduled periodically and are a great way to engage the public through hands on activities and demonstrations. We bring a loom or two, spindles and fiber, knitting needles and crochet hooks along with yarn so that interested visitors can try their hand at any of these fiber arts.
Feel free to email with any questions.
Thank you in advance for sharing your skill and time to help promote the fiber arts!
CVFG Outreach Chair
outreach@cvfg.org