The inaugural Airing of the Quilts and Gold Quilters Challenge will be held 7-8 March and will be run as part of Orange City Council's heritage program.

The Airing of the Quilts will feature works by individuals and groups.

The Gold Quilters Challenge is aimed at encouraging quilt-makers to create a new quilt which reflects the theme of gold in reference to the gold mining history of the Wentworth Mine and Lucknow.

Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd said there will be strong interest in the exhibition.

"The tradition of making quilts has a long history which goes back way beyond the gold-mining era," Cr Reg Kidd said.

"Domestic activities, especially those which are traditionally connected to the work of women are far too often neglected when it comes to understanding our history and our early settlement."

"The making of quilts showed thrift and artistic expression and persists as a way to link the past with the future".

"It's fantastic that the 'Airing of the Quilts' is going to happening outdoors. It's common in the US and it's becoming more popular here to have outdoor exhibitions."

Organisers want to receive entry forms for both categories by 2 December.

Entry forms and background information about Lucknow's gold mining history is available on the Orange City website at : https://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/our-heritage/