Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance

The Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance (SEFAA) celebrates and elevates fiber and textile arts. 

Why textiles? Because they are woven into the fabric of lives, cultures, and histories: Whether woven, stitched, knit, or otherwise intertwined, textiles have adorned our bodies, sheltered us, told our stories, and carried our memories for millennia.  

Think of the Gee’s Bend quilts, born out of necessity and now celebrated globally as masterpieces of modern art. Think of the suffragettes, whose embroidered banners became powerful symbols in the fight for women’s right to vote. Think of woven tapestries that warmed ancient castles and continue to tell stories of times long past. Textiles have shaped our existence for over 20,000 years yet fiber arts remain an overlooked and underfunded art form.

That’s where SEFAA comes in. We make textile techniques accessible and shine a spotlight on the artistic and cultural significance of fiber arts. Creativity and community intersect at SEFAA: Our classes, exhibitions, and events bring together knitters and weavers, crafters and artists, creators and admirers. We foster meaningful connections across cultures and generations through the universal language of textiles and we do it one thread at a time.

Take Paige, a high school teacher from New Orleans, who recently participated in a SEFAA dyeing workshop led by renowned Nigerian-born artist Gasali Adeyemo. She learned traditional resist-dye techniques and explored Gasali’s Yoruba culture while connecting with fellow enthusiasts of West African textiles. Then she returned to her classroom to spread creativity and cultural understanding to the next generation. Paige said, "It is important to me as an art educator that I bring cultural histories that may not otherwise be presented in public school curriculum to my classroom and that my classroom is a space where my students may potentially see elements of themselves."

That is what SEFAA does. We create exceptional learning opportunities, preserve timeless traditions, and nurture a vibrant community where artists of all abilities thrive. But vibrant communities like ours don't just happen, they are built, stitch by stitch, through passion, dedication, and donations. Your support is crucial to keeping our doors open, our programs running, and our creative spirits nourished. 

You are SEFAA. Please give generously!