Common Thread Exhibition Photo by OKGN Co.
Common Thread
temporary exhibit | floor two
Experience Common Thread at Kamloops Museum, where wool’s journey connects culture, history, and community through engaging displays and artifacts.
Showcasing how wool makes a transformative journey—from the landscape to the workshop, to yarn, to clothing, and beyond, Common Thread at the Kamloops Museum and Archives is a celebration of the materials and processes behind our region’s wool and natural fibre production.
Just as wool is spun into something lasting, this exhibition echoes how we create and preserve history by turning fleeting moments into enduring cultural treasures. You’ll explore the connections between ranching, retail, and the art of wool-making, discovering how these threads intertwine with our community and culture.
With a blend of artifacts, images, videos, and interactive elements, Common Thread creates a warm and inviting space where stories are shared, work is celebrated, and culture comes alive. Whether you’re a history buff, a craft enthusiast, or just curious, this exhibition offers a cozy, creative experience that weaves together the fabric of our shared heritage. The interactive elements ensure that you’re not just a spectator but an active participant in the celebration of our history and culture.
With interlacing artifacts, images, videos, and ways to actively participate, Common Thread stages the museum as a place for gathering and sharing stories, sharing work, and sharing culture. A space of warmth and togetherness timed with the arrival of cooler weather, the exhibition aims to weave a varied sense of community through a confluence of ideas and natural and cultural factors that bind us together.
Throughout the duration of the exhibition, the museum will be hosting a series of activities in connection to Common Thread, including a free drop-in textile circle every Wednesday morning starting on September 25 and a monthly discussion entitled Things We Carry With Us: A Fabric, Clothing, and Culture Gathering Series, which explores cultural traditions and ancestral legacies of fabric and fashions as guided by local cultural communities.
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Admission By Donation Suggested
$1 per child & $3 per adult.
Frequently Asked Questions -
Museum Hours
Tuesday - Saturday: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed -
Archive Hours
Tuesday - Friday: 1:15pm - 4:00pm
Saturday: By Appointment
Sunday & Monday: Closed -
Please Note:
The admissions desk may ask that you check your bags and any food and beverages upon entry.
We encourage you talk in our galleries, have fun, and discuss the content and artifacts you see as you make your way around the building. Laugh, cry, and remember that we like hearing our galleries active!
The exhibition will be open from September 20, 2024, to March 8, 2025.
Educational programs are available to school groups based on this exhibition. Please visit our School Programming page for more information and to book your class.










Exhibit Highlights
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Things We Carry With Us: A Fabric, Clothing, and Cultural Gathering Series
Things We Carry With Us is a featured presentation of the Kamloops Museum and Archive’s fall exhibition, Common Thread.This monthly series will explore the cultural traditions and ancestral legacies of fabric, fashion, and textiles as guided by local cultural communities.
Each month of Common Thread will feature a different cultural group. Monthly workshops will offer the opportunity to delve deeper into the meaning behind the textiles showcased.
The dates for each event are listed below, as they happen they will be linked to the event’s photo recap:
- Oct 12: The Hispanic Society of Kamloops
- Nov 30: Sagebrush Quilter’s Guild
- Dec 5, Dec 13, Dec 17: Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park with the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society
- Jan 25: KCCA/Kamloops Chinese Freemasons
- Feb 8: Unique Get Together Society
Common Thread: Opening Event
On Friday, September 20, 2024, the Kamloops Museum and Archives hosted the opening event for its new exhibition, Common Thread.
The evening featured welcoming remarks from museum representatives and a live weaving demonstration, offering guests an engaging introduction to the exhibition’s theme. Attendees enjoyed light refreshments as they explored the exhibition, which celebrates the cultural significance of wool and natural fibre production in the region.
The event fostered a sense of togetherness, successfully launching a space where stories are shared, history is celebrated, and cultural connections are woven into the fabric of the exhibition.
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