The International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has named Sarah Walcott as its new Ardis B. James Curator of Collections. She takes over from Carolyn Ducey, who retired in January.
“Sarah is the perfect choice to serve as the museum’s next curator of collections,” said Leslie Levy, Ardis and Robert James Executive Director of the museum. “Her institutional knowledge and expertise of the art form are valuable to our leadership. We are excited for her to help guide the museum and its collection into a new era.”
Walcott is only the second person to serve in the role since the museum was established in 1997.
“Quilts connect us all, and I look forward to expanding our reach to new audiences and communities,” Walcott said. “With the International Quilt Museum’s world-class collection as a foundation, we have the opportunity to highlight the emerging artists who are reimagining traditional quiltmaking.”
Walcott began as an intern at the museum in 2014. After joining the staff full-time as collections assistant in 2017, she was hired as the museum’s collections manager a year later. As collections manager, she accessioned and deaccessioned objects, prepared objects for photography and helped maintain the museum’s growing database.
Walcott has assisted with the curation of several exhibitions, including “Domestic Interiors,” “The Haunting of Quilt House” and 2024’s acclaimed “Feed Sacks: An American Fairy Tale.” In addition to her work in collections and exhibitions, she has established collaborative projects with Lincoln Public Schools' Arts and Humanities Focus Program, Lincoln’s NAACP youth chapter and the Glenn Korff School of Music at Nebraska.
Walcott is a doctoral candidate in human sciences, with a material culture and textile studies concentration. She holds a Master of Arts in textile history, with a concentration in quilt studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in English, both from Nebraska.
