Guerrilla Girls, Horror on the National Mall!, 2007
March marks the beginning of Women’s History Month, and museums and art institutions across the US are ready to highlight female artists. The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NWMA)—the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing great women artists— is launching several initiatives. They’re bringing back their popular hashtag from last year: #5WomenArtists, asking if people can name five women artists, this year with an emphasis on remembering female artists of color. See how institutions are getting in on the action via Twitter.
Did you know? There are over 300 artists featured in one of the most widely used art history textbooks—and only 8% of them are women artists. Less than 1% are women artists of color! Join us all #WomensHistoryMonth (and beyond!) using #5WomenArtists to help us right the balance. pic.twitter.com/V68iIWGVyM
— NatlMuseumWomenArts (@WomenInTheArts) February 27, 2018
The North Carolina Museum of Art recently launched a Matron of the Arts program, inspired in part by #5WomenArtists, that seeks to bring attention to the female artists in their collection through new programs, exhibitions, and acquisitions by and about women artists.
The Detroit Institute of Arts is offering film screenings and women artists-focused tours all month. More information at https://www.dia.org/womenshistorymonth2018
Around the world, people will be participating for the fifth year of the annual Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon, part of a larger project by the Art + Feminism campaign to encourage more women to edit and add to wikipedia. In March many institutions will sponsor a day of workshops teaching anyone how to edit wikipedia, who will then work to broaden the art historical cannon by expanding women’s representation online. Find an event near you at http://www.artandfeminism.org/find-an-event/
National American Museums, including Smithsonian Institutions, the Library of Congress, and the National Gallery of Art are offering special Women’s History Month programs throughout March. Check out a calendar of events at https://womenshistorymonth.gov
