![Airing of the Quilts](https://www.goriverwalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/history-ftl-logo-square.jpg)
Broward Quilt Expo (BQE) has partnered with New River Artist Cooperative to host a Mini-quilt Expo fundraiser to benefit History Fort Lauderdale and the participating guilds of Broward Quilt Expo. The mini-quilts will be on display at History Fort Lauderdale’s New River Inn (231 SW 2nd Avenue) from Friday, March 5, through Sunday, March 7, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. On March 7, there will be an “Airing of the Quilts” featuring traditional and modern quilts adorning the New River Inn of History Fort Lauderdale and surrounding buildings. Each Quilt Guild will also have quilting fabrics, supplies and items for sale to benefit History Fort Lauderdale. Admission to Mini-quilt Expo fundraiser is free.
Each participating quilter has donated mini-quilts with a Florida theme that will be for sale with proceeds benefiting the respective organizations. The guilds being represented are South Florida Modern Quilt Guild, Coral Spring Quilters, East Sunrise Quilt Guild, Quilting in the Pines, Southern Stars, West Broward Quilters’ Guild, Ocean Waves Quilt Guild and Brian Fitzgerald – artist-in- residence at History Fort Lauderdale’s New River Artist Cooperative. Larger quilts will also be on display to show the community the craftmanship of quilting. BQE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the art of quilting and hosts the largest volunteer quilt expo in South Florida
The New River Artist Cooperative is comprised of six artist-in-residence studios located on the third floor of the New River Inn. Artist-guided tours are available Monday through Friday from noon – 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Visitors who attend the Mini-quilt Expo are encouraged to also visit History Fort Lauderdale’s museums. General admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and $7 for students (through age 22 with a valid student ID). Admission is always free for members, military and children ages six and under. Exhibits include the new “Beyond the Shimmering Waters: Everglades + Immokalee Photography,” “The Bryans of Fort Lauderdale” permanent exhibit which allows guests to experience the story of the City of Fort Lauderdale as told through the pioneer family that shaped its development from an agricultural outpost in 1896 to a bustling city in the 1920s to its current status as a leading Metropolis, “Juliette Lange: A Portrait of a Mezzo Soprano,” a fashion and lifestyle glimpse of the socially prominent Fort Lauderdale resident with a lauded career as a star vocalist of musical comedy, plus “Archaeology of the New River” and a multitude of narratives and photos sharing the history of other founding families of Fort Lauderdale. The nonprofit museum also hosts a variety of yearly multicultural exhibits highlighting African American, Caribbean and Latin artists sharing their views of history.
In compliance with local and state health guidelines, visitors to History Fort Lauderdale will be required to wear a mask, have a digital temperature reading and practice safe social distancing of six feet apart. Hand sanitizer will be available at the front desk admission point and all surfaces will be thoroughly cleaned multiple times a day, per CDC guidelines. Additionally, guests will be asked to sign-in, daily, for contact tracing.
For more information about the Mini-quilt Expo fundraiser, visit www.browardquiltexpo.com.
For tickets and more information about History Fort Lauderdale, please call (954) 463-4431 or visit us online at historyfortlauderdale.org. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ftlhistory on Instagram @ftlhistory and on Twitter @FLLhistory.
About History Fort Lauderdale
History Fort Lauderdale, formerly known as Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, brings the stories of our diverse community to life through engaging educational experiences, innovative cultural exhibits, research and preservation of artifacts. Residents and visitors to Fort Lauderdale are invited to explore the city’s rich past that is housed in historic buildings on a lushly landscaped campus – the History Museum of Fort Lauderdale situated in the 1905 New River Inn, the 1907 Pioneer House Museum, the 1899 Ivy Cromartie Schoolhouse Museum and the Hoch Research Library, South Florida’s foremost history center housing print resources and newspapers from 1910 – present plus 400,000 archival photos, 2,500 maps and 5,000 architectural blueprints. History Fort Lauderdale is located at 219 SW Second Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Museum hours are Monday – Sunday, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Guided tours are available, daily, at 1, 2 and 3 p.m,. with walking tours available upon special request. Tickets are available online at HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets. History Fort Lauderdale is a nonprofit agency supported by memberships, grants and charitable contributions.