I can't imagine the public being able to touch the quilts. I did go to a quilt show put on by a guild one time, and they handed out a plastic glove, if we just 'had to' touch the display quilts. they were laid across the pews of a church. really rather nice. but they kept an eagle eye on everyone. someone came up to me, and handed me a pencil, because they saw i was taking notes with a ball point pen. they were afraid that i might get ink on a quilt. but i did not mind.