BACKGROUND

The FELT Road concept has been evolving over the past 20 years through Janice Arnold's art practice - JA FELT Studio & Lab. Her passion for wool, the science and mystery of Felt, and its important history inspired her early on to incorporate textile education into her work and to self-fund it. Over time, many passionate volunteers and patrons have generously contributed their time and effort to support her textile-based educational and experiential art installations. As a result, thousands of people worldwide have been affected!

As project demands have increased, it has become physically and financially unsustainable to continue relying on Arnold's private resources and volunteer support to sustain her high-quality educational and community events. By forming this non-profit she hopes to grow the mission to reach a broader circle of patrons, enabling The FELT Road projects and programming to grow globally, expand the positive perception of Felt, build community, as well as bring attention back to Central Asian and Mongolian origins where it belongs.

Thanks to Shunpike, The FELT Road operates as a fiscal sponsorship! Shunpike’s time-tested approaches and systems for managing donations and providing comprehensive support for tax and administrative work will help us to focus, grow, and expand in line with our local and global missions.

Just as every individual wisp of wool felts together to create a strong piece of fabric, every volunteer and donation of any size makes a difference in accomplishing the missions of The FELT Road. 

THE FELT ROAD MISSION

To build a global community with wool. We are committed to honoring the Indigenous Nomadic origins of Felt in Central Asia and Mongolia as a living art form and enduring social fabric. 

We strive to foster understanding, appreciation, and respect for the integrity of this traditional textile and for Indigenous artists worldwide who are bringing their traditional art forms into the present. Through interactive art, education, and community experiences, we strive to deepen understanding of the science, art, and history of wool and Felt.