#5WomenArtists Campaign Expands to Year-Round Initiative

A still life painting featuring an asymmetrical arrangement of flowers; the central section features pink, orange, yellow, and blue flowers and is dramatically highlighted compared to the background and outer edge of arrangement.
February 3, 2021
2/3/21
Global campaign asks, “Can you name five women artists?” to promote gender equity in the arts

WASHINGTON—The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is expanding its popular social media campaign, #5WomenArtists, beyond Women’s History Month to a year-round initiative. To increase awareness of gender inequity in the art world and beyond, the global campaign asks the question, “Can you name five women artists?”

Throughout 2021, NMWA will offer virtual programs, online experiences and on-site exhibitions that relate to #5WomenArtists, in addition to highlighting the campaign on its popular social media channels @WomenInTheArts. Over the course of the year, followers can expect popular Instagram takeovers from other museums and arts organizations as well as #5WomenArtists content from NMWA staff, donors, members and artists whose work is in the collection.

“We’ve seen many individuals and institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Walker Art Center and the National Gallery of Australia, continue to use the hashtag throughout the year, placing a much-needed spotlight on the contributions of women artists,” said NMWA Director Susan Fisher Sterling. “We decided to expand the campaign to send a message about championing women artists and gender equity in the arts all year long, not only during Women’s History Month.”

Museums, libraries and other arts organizations are encouraged to participate by sharing the ways that they are supporting women artists in 2021. They can sign up here to receive campaign news from NMWA, including updated shareable assets with statistics, quotes and images related to gender equity in the arts. NMWA will share select events and exhibitions on its social media channels and on the “In Your Region” section of the website.

Upcoming #5WomenArtists Events

Art Chats @ 5
Fridays, March 5–June 25, 5–5:45 p.m.

Jump-start your weekend with art! Join NMWA educators online every Friday for informal 45-minute art chats about selected artworks in the collection. Discuss a new sampling of art each week. You can even enjoy your favorite happy hour drink or snack during the sessions. Free. Registration required and limited. Register online. Registration for each month’s Art Chats opens by the 20th of the previous month. Art Chats in March will be related to the #5WomenArtists campaign.

Wikipedia Art+Feminism Virtual Edit-a-thon
Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

To mark Wikipedia’s 20th anniversary, NMWA partners with Wikimedia DC for the museum’s eighth Art+Feminism edit-a-thon, focused on improving Wikipedia entries related to notable women artists and art world figures. We will work to enrich the representation of women artists of color, with an emphasis on women of African descent whose work is included in NMWA’s collection. This event is part of a global initiative to help right Wikipedia’s gender imbalance. Free. Reserve online. No experience necessary; you need a computer, motivation to combat gender bias and a belief in equal access to quality resources. People of all gender identities and expressions are invited. Use the hashtags #ArtAndFeminism and #NowEditingAF to share about the event.

International Women’s Day
Monday, March 8, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Join NMWA for a virtual festival in celebration of International Women’s Day. Throughout the day, museum staff, artists and makers will host online classes and programs that highlight and honor women in the arts. Learn something new or just take time to enjoy a conversation about women in the arts. Free. A full schedule and registration links will be available February 19.

Virtual Happy Hours

Join NMWA staff and special guests to celebrate the birthdays of women artists. Make specialty cocktails in their honor as we share artworks and stories and explore the museum’s collection and archives. Free; registration required. To support these programs and others like it, please consider making a donation.

Click here for a frequently updated list of #5WomenArtists-related events.

National Museum of Women in the Arts

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the only major 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.

NMWA is located at 1250 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. For information, call 202-783-5000, visit nmwa.org, Broad Strokes blog, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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