National Museum of Women in the Arts: What’s Next

Opened in 1987, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the only major museum in the world dedicated solely to exhibiting, collecting, and preserving art by women. Housed in a landmark 1908 building located two blocks from the White House, the museum’s collection comprises 5,500 objects created by artists from six continents across five centuries. When it opened, NMWA answered the urgent question, “Where are the women artists?” After focusing on the rediscovery of women written out of art historical discourse, the museum pivoted to women’s relevance and power within the cultural realm. The museum’s programming highlights in particular their pioneering roles in modern sculpture, photography, and video. Gender bias is less overt today, but contemporary women artists still face significant obstacles and disparities, and the museum embraces its continuing role as a vocal advocate for women. As museums work to expand their representation of art by women, NMWA is taking stock of its role in the evolving art world and planning its next goals.