Located in regions across the U.S. and around the globe, NMWA’s affiliate groups raise the museum’s profile and champion women artists far beyond the museum’s walls in Washington, DC. Committees plan local programs that highlight our mission, collection, exhibitions, and activities. Committee members work with the museum’s staff to increase membership; donate works of art; and fund exhibitions, education programs, and object conservation.
Read on to learn about just a few committee projects that have helped empower women artists around the world.
Recent Committee Activities

Women to Watch Exhibition
Women to Watch is a unique exhibition series at NMWA that features emerging and underrepresented women artists from regions where the museum has outreach committees. See the Women to Watch section below to learn more.

Capítulo Chileno del NMWA
The Capítulo Chileno (Chile Committee), in partnership with CV Galería, organized an extensive exhibition featuring over forty women photographers based in Chile. In spring of 2021, the in-person installation of Historias de un Encierro opened to the public.

Georgia Committee of NMWA
In May 2021, the Georgia Committee hosted a virtual Fresh Talk about the role of art in immigration politics, activism, and social justice with Atlanta-based artist Yehimi Cambrón and immigration experts Dr. Roberto Gonzales and Raymond Partolan. The program was inspired by NMWA’s Women, Arts, and Social Change initiative.

UK Friends of NMWA
Throughout the pandemic, the UK Friends of NMWA have held free, virtual conversations with women artists, curators, and other arts professionals based in the UK. The December 2020 program featured artist Rana Begum, who represented the UK in Heavy Metal – Women to Watch 2018, in dialogue with curator Anna McNay.

Arkansas Committee of NMWA
The Arkansas Committee’s Arkansas Women to Watch 2021, featuring work by the four Arkansan artists who were nominated to exhibit in Paper Routes – Women to Watch 2020 at NMWA, is traveling to six venues across Arkansas. See the Committee’s short film about Arkansas Women to Watch 2021 here.

New Mexico Committee of NMWA
In winter of 2020, Santa Fe art collectors Roddie and Steve Harris gave a virtual tour of their glass, pottery, and painting collection to members of the New Mexico Committee. Local videographer Noor-un-nisa Touchon filmed the tour, which included remarks by collected glass artist Linda Mae Tratechaud.
Committee Locations
National Committees
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Northern California
- Southern California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Greater Kansas City Area
- Massachusetts
- Mid-Atlantic
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Texas
- Washington
- Wyoming
International Committees
- Argentina
- Canada
- Chile
- France
- Germany
- India
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Peru
- Portugal
- Spain
- United Kingdom
Contact Us
National & International Programs
866-875-4627
committees@nmwa.org
Women to Watch
The Women to Watch exhibition series is a unique collaboration between NMWA and its national and international committees. Each exhibition, held every few years, focuses on a specific medium or theme chosen by NMWA’s curators and features underrepresented women artists from each committee’s respective region.
Paper Routes—Women to Watch 2020
The museum worked with 22 committees to present Paper Routes, the sixth installment of our Women to Watch exhibition series, which showcased the transformation of paper into complex works of art. Artists use paper not merely as a support for drawings, prints, or photographs, but as a medium itself. Ranging in size from minutely detailed, small-scale works to large, sculptural installations, this exhibition explored artists’ ability to transform paper into a surprising array of shapes and structures.
In addition to their involvement in the exhibition at NMWA, many participating committees organized local group exhibitions, receptions, and panel discussions to celebrate the artists from their regions.

Past Women to Watch Exhibitions
Paper Routes—2020

Heavy Metal—2018

Organic Matters—2015

High Fiber—2012

Body of Work—2010

Photography—2008
