Above the museum and shop there's a whole 6,000 square feet of second storey, waiting to be filled with more Lacis Museum activities. This is a beautiful space, filled with natural light and endless possibilities. In pursuit of our purpose of education, we are planning to go beyond our current Saturday class program and are now making preparations for the first of what will be a continuing program of intensive retreats offering extended classes for study of lace, textiles, and costume. In addition, we are also developing a large new gallery for special exhibits honoring textile artists and for exhibiting the work of guest instructors.

LMLT's location adjacent to a BART station offers out-of-town visitors direct transportation from Bay Area airports, as well as easy access to the attractions of the San Francisco and the East Bay Area. Within a few blocks are the Berkeley Bowl, a mecca for lovers of fresh produce that also features a wide array of organic and natural foods, conventional groceries and everyday items, and an international food bar. Across the street from the Bowl is the best patisserie this side of Budapest, Crixa Cakes. Other nearby attractions are the ScharffenBerger Chocolate Factory (perhaps a group tour would be in order), the museums and libraries of the University of California, the restaurants and shops of Berkeley’s "Gourmet Ghetto", lots of museums and other cultural attractions, and just across the Bay, the urban excitement of San Francisco and the serene natural beauty of the Marin headlands, Muir Woods and Mt. Tamalpais. (Extending your stay through the weekend before or after the retreat is definitely an option to consider!)

Workshops will be scheduled for six days, with two 2-1/2 hour sessions each day, with individual classes scheduled for one or more sessions. Evening hours will be available for projects, practice, discussions, or just getting together to enjoy each other's company. Classes or seminars in the needlearts could be enhanced by displays of related items from the museum collection as well as displays of the work of contemporary artists and students.

In addition to instruction in fiber arts and techniques, the historical resources of our museum collection will allow students a glimpse at the historical background of these arts and a tangible link with needle artists of the past. The museum shop offers extensive resources, including hard-to-find textile tools, materials, and a wide range of books and instructional materials.

The Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a listing of hotels and motels, as well as a guide to the embarrassment of dining riches that Berkeley offers. While there is a wide range of possiblities, LMLT will make specific suggestions for nearby accomodations where students will have an opportunity to share rooms and transportation as well as housing expenses.