2026 September Guild Meeting: Bringing the Virginia Quilt Museum to You!

Bringing the Virginia Quilt Museum to You!

With Alicia Thomas, Executive Director

Virginia Quilt Museum

Alicia Thomas joined the Virginia Quilt Museum as Executive Director in September of 2021. A lifelong museum lover and casual crafter, she is proud to be part of the Virginia Quilt Museum. Since joining VQM Alicia has led numerous projects including building a new website, increased revenue by 150%, and managed the 2024 move of the museum to the historic Silver Lake Mill.

Alicia has spent the past 16 years in the mid-Atlantic region working in a variety of government and nonprofit organizations. She has worked at the Capitol Visitors Center, The Rosenbach Museum & Library, and the Wildlife Habitat Council in a variety of roles.

Alicia was raised in southern Michigan and has a BA in American History from Michigan State University. She attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina Wilmington where she earned an MA in Public History and met her husband Jonathan. Alicia and Jonathan are thrilled to be living in Harrisonburg and are enjoying exploring all the area has to offer.

The Virginia Quilt Museum cultivates and preserves the quilting arts in Virginia through exhibitions, programs, and collecting.  VQM opened in 1995 and welcomes over 6,000 quilters and quilt lovers a year.  In 2024 the museum relocated to the historic Silver Lake Mill in Dayton, Virginia.  VQM collects quilts made in, or related to, the commonwealth of Virginia and currently owns over 300 quilts.  The oldest quilt in the Museum's collection is from 1806 and the newest is from 2018.  Along with collecting VQM hosts between 6 to 10 exhibitions a year. VQM strives to showcase all of the styles and eras of quilting in their exhibition from historic pieces to contemporary art quilts and everything in between. VQM also offers a number of programs and events throughout the year for quilters, fiber artists, and those interested in learning.