Woodland Cultural Centre NEW Exhibition 2026

July 20 ~ August 15, 2026

Woodland Cultural Centre is proud to present You Are Not Forgotten, a collaborative exhibition developed through an ongoing relationship between the Six Nations Piecemakers Quilt Club and the Grand River Quilt Project.

You Are Not Forgotten brings together two bodies of work connected through community-based quilting practices: Quilts for Survivors created by the Six Nations Piecemakers Quilt Club, and the Grand River Quilt Project. Together, these works explore themes of remembrance, connection, storytelling, and place through textile art.

The Quilts for Survivors honour Residential School Survivors and offer messages of care and comfort through handmade works rooted in community practice. Alongside this, the Grand River Quilt features more than 70 quilt squares and accompanying stories created by individuals living along the Grand River watershed, each reflecting a personal connection to the river and its significance in their lives.

Exhibition Information:

July 20 – August 15, 2026
Woodland Cultural Centre, 184 Mohawk Street, Brantford, ON (Inside the former Mohawk Institute Residential School)
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Closing Reception: To be announced!

About the Six Nations Piecemakers Quilt Club

The Six Nations Piecemakers Quilt Club, Six Nations of the Grand River, was formed in January 2019 to promote quilting within the community. The club is made up of members with many years of combined experience in quilting and sewing, and is committed to giving back through the donation of handmade fabric items to organizations such as Iroquois Lodge, Ogwadeni:deo, and others.

The club provides a welcoming environment for both new and experienced quilters, offering opportunities to share techniques, showcase quilting work, and participate in workshops exploring a range of fabric arts and practices.

About the Grand River Quilt Project

The Grand River Quilt Project is a community-based initiative inspired by the Grand River and the people who live along its banks. The idea began in 2022 as part of The Grand River Community Play: The Voice of a River, and grew from community gatherings supported by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity in collaboration with Grandview Theatre Company.

These gatherings led to a series of workshops resulting in quilt squares created by participants across the Grand River watershed, from Dundalk to Dunnville, including Six Nations of the Grand River. Each square is accompanied by a story or poem reflecting the creator’s personal relationship to the river. Rather than forming a traditional quilt layout, the squares are joined together to reflect the connections between communities along the river.

About Grandview Theatre Company

Grandview Theatre Company is a Brantford-based theatre company that has developed a series of community-engaged works inspired by the Grand River, including The Voice of a River, Grand Spring, Grand Summer, Grand Autumn, and Grand Winter. Over the past three years, the company has facilitated workshops and performances tracing the river from its source to its mouth.

As part of the opening ceremonies for You Are Not Forgotten, performers from Grandview Theatre Company and the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity will present theatrical interpretations inspired by stories from the Grand River Quilt Project and the Mohawk Institute.

This project is supported by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity and Grandview Theatre Company.

About the Woodland Cultural Centre:
The Woodland Cultural Centre is a First Nations educational and cultural centre that serves to preserve and promote Indigenous languages, cultures, art, and history. Located on the site of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, the WCC strives to be a leading destination for cultural learning and understanding.

Location: Woodland Cultural Centre, 184 Mohawk Street, Brantford, Ontario

Website: https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/