WASHINGTON—The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) announced today that RECLAMATION: Recipes, Remedies and Rituals, an interactive virtual exhibition launched in 2021, has won a Bronze Medal for Best Community Engagement in Education, Art, and Culture in the inaugural Anthem Awards, a new program by the Webby Awards to recognize impactful social initatives. The inaugural competition received nearly 2,500 entries from 36 countries, and the recognition of NMWA places it alongside some of the most purpose and mission-driven people, companies and organizations in the world.
Anthem winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Members include Daniel Dae Kim (actor, producer and activist); Ashley Judd (Author, Actor and Social Justice Humanitarian); Mitchell Baker (CEO and chairwoman, Mozilla); Lisa Sherman (president and CEO, Ad Council); Sarah Kate Ellis (president and CEO, GLAAD); Renata Erlikhman (chief investment officer, OW Management); Shayla Tait (director of philanthropy, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation); Russlynn Ali (CEO and co-founder, XQ Institute); Marc Ecko (chief commercial officer and board member, XQ Institute); Heidi Arthur (chief campaign development officer, Ad Council) and Alexis M. Herman (chair and chief executive officer, New Ventures, and former U.S. secretary of labor).
RECLAMATION was an evolving online exhibition and ingredient archive that examined food as a creative medium for visual art and a connective tool for exploring intergenerational and intercultural experiences. In addition to engaging in direct community storytelling, the exhibition centered around the kitchen table, the central domestic object for gatherings of family and friends. Nine artists activated their own tables, sharing photographs, videos and stories about how they use this domestic object. These intimate glimpses into the artists’ homes simultaneously reveal a work of art and the process by which it is made.
“The National Museum of Women in the Arts has set the standard for excellence for the Impact Industry,” said Jessica Lauretti, Managing Director, The Anthem Awards. “We are so proud of what we are building at The Anthem Awards and are humbled by the positive response and extraordinary support from global brands and national organizations to artists, creators and local individuals making an impact in their community. It is our distinct honor to showcase and highlight this work and recognize its impact across Education, Art, & Culture.”
“RECLAMATION is a project that shows how the art of the domestic space can unify the public and empower museums to be places of healing and transformation, especially during trying times,” said Melani Douglass, NMWA’s director of public programs. “With strategic local partners and talented women artists, RECLAMATION exemplified how cultural institutions can be catalysts for social change by using their platform to amplify the solutions, creativity and innovation bursting from the communities they serve.”
Winners for the inaugural Anthem Awards will be celebrated at the first annual Anthem Voices virtual conference followed by a star-studded virtual awards show on February 28, 2022, at 5 p.m. EST. Fans will be able to watch the on-demand show featuring special moments and hallmark speeches from winners at www.anthemawards.com.
The Anthem Awards was launched in response to the prevalence social good has taken within the national conversation and cultural zeitgeist in recent years. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. A portion of program revenue will fund a new grant program supporting emerging individuals and organizations working to advance the causes recognized in the inaugural Anthem Awards.
About the Anthem Awards
The Anthem Awards, the Webby Awards newest initiative, was developed to recognize the breadth of social good work (online and offline) around the globe by honoring the organizations, brands, and people creating long-lasting impact; including, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Education, Art, & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment, & Climate. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. Founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF and XQ.
About the National Museum of Women in the Arts
The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. With its collections, exhibitions, programs and online content, the museum inspires dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement and social change. NMWA addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while promoting great women artists working today. The collections highlight painting, sculpture, photography and video by artists including Louise Bourgeois, Mary Cassatt, Judy Chicago, Frida Kahlo, Shirin Neshat, Faith Ringgold, Pipilotti Rist, Amy Sherald and Élisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun.
The museum building is closed for a major renovation, with plans to reopen in fall 2023. Visit nmwa.org/renovation for more information. During the building closure, NMWA continues its mission-based work and engages supporters and friends through a dynamic slate of online programs and events, off-site and virtual exhibitions, and digital content. For information, call 202-783-5000, visit nmwa.org, Broad Strokes blog, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.