Sewing Hope: Quilts for Climate Change
A multi-sited collaborative project initiated by National Museums Scotland
Sewing Hope: Quilts for Climate Change aims to engage communities with greater knowledge and understanding about climate change, and the positive actions we can take towards a sustainable future. By reflecting on the ways that Prehistoric People lived and thinking about the lessons that we can learn from them about sustainability, the project aims to inspire participants to share their creative and collective response with their communities, expressing calls to action and hopes for the future.
Using donated thread, buttons and reclaimed and recycled fabrics, the project has created a collage of ‘quilts’, each square made by an individual representing what climate change looks like to them, and their hopes for the future. 240 people took part altogether.
Kilmartin Museum is at the centre of Argyll’s amazing and internationally important archaeology and natural heritage. Each one of the participants has reflected our unique environment and heritage in their ‘quilt’ squares.
The following groups made quilt squares:
19th Argyll Explorer Scouts, Craignish Primary School, Dochas Carers Centre, Gigha Primary School, Glassary & Tayvallich Primary Schools, Kilmartin Museum staff, volunteers and drop-in session participants, Kilmartin Primary School, Lismore Primary School, LiveArgyll Lochgilphead Adult Learning, Lochside & LRC Oban Registered Learning Disability Day Service, Scottish Women’s Institute Lochgilphead.
With thanks to National Museums Scotland and all the volunteers, staff and friends who gave their time, donated materials and used their sewing skills to help create the quilts.
The quilts are being exhibited at Kilmartin Museum from 22 April - 1 July 2025, and in 2026 will be part of a larger exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland.
