THOMASVILLE- Thomasville Center for the Arts was recently recognized at the state level with a special project award at this year’s Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) annual conference, held in Milledgeville, Ga.

GAM president Rebecca Bush and award committee chair Karin Dalton presented the Center with the Special Project Category #1 (under $1,000) award for “The Patchwork Project” at the awards luncheon on February 7.

Held during the annual conference, the GAM annual awards program recognizes outstanding achievements of people and organizations that make up the museum community across Georgia. The Patchwork Project, a community quilt created by over 200 individuals, was recognized for its originality, contributions to the cultural fabric of the state, and excellence in implementation.

“The Patchwork Project was designed as an expression of our community – like a patchwork quilt with a multitude of tones, colors, textures, and shapes that tell a story of Thomasville and the people who live and visit here,” said Britt Shiver, director of programs and engagement at Thomasville Center for the Arts. “The final product is a visual representation of what our community feels, what it envisions, and what is most important here in our corner of Southwest Georgia.”

Partnerships with local businesses and non-profits were critical to the project’s success and outreach. The project served as an outreach tool for the Center as it traveled to different neighborhoods in the community to capture the perspectives of as many people as possible. The Patchwork Project traveled to community events where participants delighted at the chance to create a work of art that would eventually be pieced together into a large community quilt. Local artists Jennifer Vanderbeek and Emily McKenna crafted the individual pieces into two large-scale quilts which were initially unveiled at Paradise Park to a crowd of over 50, several who traveled across state lines to view their work as part of the project.

“It is an honor to be recognized at the state level for this project,” said Erin Wolfe Bell, executive director of the Center. “Many hands helped create a beautiful work of art, and we’re thrilled it was received so enthusiastically both locally and by the statewide museum community.”

The Patchwork Project lives on as a permanent display at Kin Wine Market & Lounge, a wine and snack shop located in Downtown Thomasville, where guests can see the Patchwork Project lovingly featured on the shop’s walls.

GAM is a private, nonprofit statewide organization dedicated to encouraging growth and improving professional practices of museums and nonprofit galleries throughout the state. The annual conference is an opportunity for museum professionals, board members, volunteers and supporters to share information and build relationships among museums and galleries throughout the state. The conference is hosted by a different community each year.