Gloria Coles Flint Public Library Honors the Flint African American Quilters Guild at 36th Annual Quilt Show
FLINT, MI – The Gloria Coles Flint Public Library proudly hosted the 36th Annual Quilt Show this week, celebrating community artistry and honoring the Flint African American Quilters Guild for their decades of creative and cultural contribution to the Flint area.
During the opening ceremony, the Guild was presented with the 2025 Michigan Heritage Award by Micah Ling of the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, recognizing their outstanding achievement in preserving and sharing Michigan’s rich cultural traditions through the art of quilting.
Founded in 1987, the Flint African American Quilters Guild was formed to preserve and pass down quilting traditions rooted in African American culture. Since 1995, the Guild has partnered with the Library to showcase its members’ work each fall, transforming the building into a gallery of color, storytelling, and craftsmanship.
“The Flint African American Quilters Guild has filled our Library with art that speaks to history, resilience, and community,” said Ann Manko, Interim Executive Director of the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library. “For more than thirty years, their work has reflected the heart of Flint—connecting generations and reminding us how creativity preserves culture.”
The Guild’s quilts have been featured in classrooms, churches, community centers, and regional quilt festivals, inspiring new generations to explore the creative power of fabric and design. Their continued partnership with the Library has made the annual Quilt Show a beloved Flint tradition, celebrating both artistry and heritage.