Kathleen Almelien of Washington, a local artist and retired teacher, will be participating in the American-Scandinavian Foundation fellowship this summer. 

Almelien recently learned that her application to the American-Scandinavian Foundation was  selected and that she will be an ASF fellow during the summer of 2026. The ASF offers year-long fellowships and short term grants to individuals to pursue research, study or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian countries for up to one year. Awards are made in all fields. Applicants must have a well-defined research, study or creative arts project that makes a stay in Scandinavia essential.

Almelien will be studying rigid heddle band weaving in the mountains of southern Norway from August 27th through September 18th. 

In 2024, Almelien demonstrated weaving for the Norwegian ambassador to the United States Anniken Huitfeldt when she visited Decorah’s Vesterheim Museum. In May of 2025, Almelien was invited to the embassy to demonstrate band weaving for an open house. Almelien has been a fiber artist for many years, often participating in Fiber Arts February with the Washington Public Library.