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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Howard White, 202.783.7983, hwhite@nmwa.org
WASHINGTON—The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) announced today that it will receive a prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Services, an annual prize awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to museums and libraries in recognition of “long-term commitment to public service through innovative programs and community partnerships.” The award carries a prize of $10,000.
“We are thrilled that the IMLS has recognized the National Museum of Women in the Arts for the quality of our exhibitions and public programs and our work in the community. The timing of the award is particularly auspicious as we are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year. This award is a wonderful affirmation that what we are doing really makes a difference,” said Mrs. Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, NMWA founder and chair of the board of trustees.
“The Institute of Museum and Library Services is pleased to recognize the community achievements of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The Museum makes positive differences in their citizens’ lives and serves as a model for the nation’s museums. I offer my heartfelt congratulations,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, PhD, Director of IMLS.
In its 20 years, the Women’s Museum has presented more than 200 exhibitions and thousands of community-based programs all dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in the visual, performing, and literary arts.
Founded in 1981 and opened in 1987, NMWA remains the only museum in the world dedicated solely to celebrating women in the arts. Its permanent collection contains some 3,500 works by more than 800 artists, ranging from the 16th century to the present day. The museum conducts programs for diverse audiences and maintains a Library and Research Center. NMWA is located at 1250 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., in a landmark historic building near the White House.
In 2007, NMWA presented two landmark exhibitions, Italian Women Artists from Renaissance to Baroque and WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution, that range respectively from the 16th century and the beginning of women artists in the Western tradition, to the 20th-century movement that has transformed the artistic, social, sexual, and political roles of women worldwide.
This year the museum also launched Clara: Database of Women Artists, a unique interactive database containing authoritative information on 18,000 women visual artists of all time periods and nationalities.
Also receiving National Medals are the Birmingham [AL] Civil Rights Institute, Chicago Zoological Society, Georgetown County [SC] Library, Kim Yerton Memorial Library [Hoopa, CA], Memphis Public Library, The Newberry Library [Chicago, IL], Ocean County Library [Toms River, NJ], Oregon Museum of Science and Industry [Portland, OR], and the Vermont Historical Society [Barre, VT].
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas (www.imls.gov).
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