Healing, hope, remembrance, and history: the AIDS epidemic in America

"By sharing the story of the struggle against HIV/AIDS, we remember, in perpetuity, the lives lost, we offer healing and hope to survivors, and we inspire new generations of activists in the fight against stigma, denial, and hate for a just future." from the National AIDS Memorial

The quilt remains an enduring testimony to the power of creating together to offer new perspectives on the world. Art has the potential to humanize the experiences of individuals living with HIV, challenges stereotypes, and promotes empathy and understanding. Please consider sponsoring a panel of the Quilt to be displayed on December 1, 2025

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

sign up here to participate

HELP US BRING 36 SECTIONS OF THE NAMES MEMORIAL QUILT TO BOSTON FOR WORLD AIDS DAY.

The cost of each panel is $250.00. Please let us know if you would like a particular panel. The cost of bringing the 36 panels is $10,000. To Rent the Cyclorama is an additional $15,000. If you are unable to sponsor a quilt panel please consider making a donation.

WE WILL PROCESS WITH 16 PANELS FROM BOSTON CITY HALL ON NOVEMBER 30TH TO THE BOSTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND OUR ANNUAL 24 HOUR WORLD AIDS DAY VIGIL

You can search the digital quilt here. www.aidsmemorial.org/interactive-aids-quilt

SCHEDULE

Nov 30

12:30 pm Gather at Boston City Hall Plaza

Processional to Boston Center for the Arts 1:00 pm

We are looking for 16 teams of 12 people to carry each section of the quilt. Please let us know if your group, church, family circle of friends etc would like to take part

Placing of the quilts 2:00 pm

Doors open at the BCA at noon and will be open for 36 hours, each hour will be marked with an artistic or playful offering.

IN ADDITION WE ARE LAUNCHING THE WISH YOU WERE HERE POSTCARD CAMPAIGN

- Postcard Initiative: We invite community members to write postcards, provided by SPOKE, that express their thoughts and hopes to end the stigma surrounding HIV or to remember someone they have lost. These postcards will be a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and understanding.

- Remembrance: The postcards will be stitched together using a red thread, symbolizing the connection and collective effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

FOR MORE INFO ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE CALL 617-872-6065 OR EMAIL MDOWLING@SPOKEART.ORG

The AIDS Memorial Quilt serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost to AIDS, fosters community solidarity, raises awareness, and challenges societal misconceptions, all of which are essential steps toward ending HIV stigma.

1. Personalization of the Epidemic: By commemorating individuals who have died from AIDS, the quilt personalizes the epidemic, transforming abstract statistics into real lives and stories. Each panel tells the story of a person, highlighting their individuality and humanity, which helps combat the dehumanization often associated with the disease.

2. Visibility: The quilt's sheer size and the number of panels (over 48,000) create a striking visual representation of the impact of AIDS. This visibility challenges the stigma by bringing the conversation about HIV and AIDS into public spaces, making it harder for society to ignore the reality of the epidemic.

3. Community and Support: The quilt was created by a community of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS, including friends, family, and activists. This sense of community fosters solidarity and support, helping to counteract the isolation that stigma can create. The act of creating and displaying the quilt is also a form of collective healing.

4. Education and Advocacy: The quilt has been used as a tool for education and advocacy, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and promoting understanding of the disease. By educating the public about the realities of living with HIV, the quilt helps to dismantle misconceptions and fears that contribute to stigma.

5. Cultural Impact: As an iconic symbol of the fight against AIDS, the quilt has reached a wide audience through exhibitions and events. Its cultural significance has contributed to changing perceptions about HIV/AIDS, encouraging empathy and understanding rather than fear and discrimination.

6. Encouraging Dialogue: The quilt encourages conversations about HIV/AIDS, which is crucial for reducing stigma. By inviting people to reflect on the lives represented in the quilt, it opens up discussions about the disease, its impact, and the importance of compassion and support for those living with HIV.

Why Your Contribution Matters:

Raise Awareness: Sharing your story helps to illuminate the realities of living with HIV, encouraging open conversations that can dispel myths and misunderstandings.
Foster Community Support: By participating, you join a collective effort to create a supportive environment for those affected by HIV.
Honor Lives: Your message can serve as a reminder of the resilience and strength of those living with HIV and the importance of compassion in the face of adversity.

We are an artist founded and artist run organization. Supporting and collaborating with artists of all disciplines and maintaining the role of artists as facilitators in culture, is central to our work. We use the power of making art to triage critical needs of the communities we serve that are confronting addiction, immigration, systemic racism, police youth relationships, stewardship of our natural world, HIV/AIDS and/or human trafficking. Our work is to seek focus, fairness, and balance. Our goal is to continue to use art and the act of creating together to define a brave new normal and shape a shared future history where each of us has a voice, where each of us is included, where each of us is listened to, where each of us is loved.

WISH YOU WERE HERE! SPOKE presents the 34th annual World AIDS Day Vigil

WISH YOU WERE HERE, NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt