OIDFA

{{Short description|Non-profit French organization for lacemakers and lace enthusiasts}} {{Infobox organization | name = The International Bobbin and Needle Lace Organization | native_name = L’Organisation Internationale de la Dentelle au Fuseau et à l’Aiguille | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | abbreviation = | predecessor = | merged_into = | successor = | formation = 1982 | founder = | extinction =  | merger = | type = | tax_id =  | registration_id =  | status = | purpose = | headquarters = France | location = | coordinates = | region_served = world | services = | products = | methods = | fields = | membership = Lace artists, scholars, and educators | language = French and English | owner =  | secretary_general = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = | parent_organization = | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | revenue = | disbursements = | expenses = | endowment = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | slogan = | website = {{URL|https://www.oidfa.com/}} | remarks = | former_name = | footnotes = }}

thumb|French bobbin lace pillow with booklet about the tools'''OIDFA''' (''Organisation Internationale de la Dentelle au Fuseau et à l’Aiguille)'' is a non-profit organization based in France that supports the international community of lace enthusiasts and promotes the study and practice of lacemaking.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Over 200 Participants from 28 Countries Attending 21st World Lace Congress in Karlovo |url=https://www.bta.bg/en/news/world/949818-over-200-participants-from-28-countries-attending-21st-world-lace-congress-in-ka |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=www.bta.bg |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Les dentelles de France |url=https://raco.cat/index.php/Datatextil/ |journal=Datatèxtil |volume=29 |pages=67}}</ref>

== History and Activities == OIDFA was founded in 1982 in France.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organization Information |url=https://www.oidfa.com/organization-information/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=OIDFA |language=en-US}}</ref> Its name stands for ''The International Bobbin and Needle Lace Organization''. It promotes lace making through three main activities: 1) organizing conferences and workshops bringing lacemakers together for educational opportunities; 2) quarterly publications providing information on lace history, art, and community meeting opportunities;<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcVOAAAAYAAJ |title=Bulletin, OIDFA: Quarterly Journal of the International Bobbin and Needle Lace Organization |date=2002 |publisher=OIDFA |language=fr}}</ref> and 3) connecting its members to museums for exhibitions of expertise provision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Bobbin and Needle Lace. European intangible cultural heritage |url=https://www.comunidad.madrid/en/cultura/patrimonio-cultural/encaje-bolillos-aguja-patrimonio-cultural-inmaterial-europeo |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Comunidad de Madrid |language=en}}</ref>

Publications from OIDFA include conference proceedings as well as lace techniques,<ref>{{Cite web |title=OIDFA Point Ground Lace |url=https://www.thelacebee.com/book-blog/oidfa-point-ground-lace |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=the lacebee |language=en-GB}}</ref> identification, and history including regional costume traditions that include lace.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Publications |url=https://www.oidfa.com/publications/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=OIDFA |language=en-US}}</ref>

OIDFA organized a Congress every two years since 1982 in various European locations around Europe<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malta |first=Times of |date=2006-07-02 |title=Maltese lacemakers attend international congress |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/maltese-lacemakers-attend-international-congress.48913 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}</ref> until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented travel. It resumed organizing this event in 2023. The Congress celebrates the local lace traditions where it is held: for instance, the 2023 Congress in Nova Gorcia focused on lace traditions in Slovenia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=In Slovenia, lace-making is for everyone |url=https://sloveniatimes.com/39410/in-slovenia-lace-making-is-for-everyone |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=sloveniatimes.com |language=en}}</ref> It also encourages learning new lace traditions, by encouraging lacemakers around the world to realize a pattern developed for the event and sending it for display.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New England Lace Group - 2025 OIDFA: A Rose for Kalofer |url=https://nelg.us/A-Rose-for-Kalofer-2025 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=nelg.us}}</ref>

==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xMxd27RExk World Lace Congress of the International Bobbin and Needle Lace Organisation in Nova Gorica] (video). YouTube.com [https://www.sta.si/ STA] - Slovenska tiskovna agencija * OIDFA site in Europe: https://www.oidfa.com/ * OIDFA site in USA: https://oidfa-usa.org/ * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kODk5OqtdX8 German Lace OIDFA Presentation]

==References==

Category:Lace Category:Lacemakers Category:Textile arts organizations Category:Organizations established in 1982 Category:American textile artists Category:Textile arts exhibitions Category:Needlework