National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC

www.nmwa.org
Press Contact: Howard White, 202.783.7983, hwhite@nmwa.org

Families participate in Family Day activities at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Click image for a larger view.

Since opening its doors to the public 20 years ago, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) has welcomed over 3.5 million visitors, cultivated a collection of 3,500 objects, and presented more than 200 art exhibitions. The brainchild of Wilhelmina Holladay – who, after searching through a college textbook in the 1960s, found that women were greatly underrepresented in the world of “high art” – the NMWA has grown from a private collection to a museum near the National Mall, where anyone can come and appreciate the contribution of artists from Frida Kahlo to Marie Cassatt.

The NMWA produces programming for students of all ages and backgrounds. The goal: to cultivate visitors’ interest in the arts and demonstrate that talented women artists are anything but an exception. Programs like Bridging Communities ask students to write their own books (with the help of their teachers), which are then illustrated by unique artists and presented at an NMWA reception at the end of the year. Role Model Workshops pair students with successful female artists, who teach their pupils about their creative work, and in turn inspire and motivate a new generation of artists. For adults, meanwhile, the NMWA produces a year-long series of free concerts, literary events, film programming, and lectures aimed at engaging the public and getting its important message out.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts’ mission began with a simple question: “Where are the women artists?” Through its creative educational outreach, sharing the accomplishments and masterworks of female artists with the public, and constant growth and evolution, the NMWA has provided a lasting and emphatic answer to this question.

Community Member Amalia Amaki – Exhibit Opens Doors
In 2005, NMWA selected artist Amalia Amaki for a retrospective exhibition of three-dimensional artwork that incorporated fabric, beads, pearls, buttons, paint, found objects and glitter. The Boxes, Buttons and the Blues show marked a milestone in her career, placing her art before audiences from around the country and providing Amaki numerous opportunities to engage attendees, address media audiences, and participate in onsite programming.