Work by female practitioners makes up just 3鈥5% of major collections in the US and Europe. The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), Washington, is the only museum in the world solely committed聽 to addressing this imbalance. For Women鈥檚 History Month in March, the institution raises awareness by asking social media users to name five artists through a hashtag campaign. This year’s iteration of #5womenartists places a special emphasis on the narratives of creatives of colour, who often experience discrimination based on both race and gender. Emily Haight, the museum’s Digital Editorial Assistant, discusses the importance of the campaign and its relevance in a digital landscape.
A: #5WomenArtists aims to help increase awareness of gender inequality in the art world. How fundamental is it to the industry 鈥 and to society at large 鈥 that female practitioners are highlighted in this way?
EH: When women don鈥檛 have a seat at the table, are left out of the conversation, or, in this case, are left off gallery walls, then you鈥檙e missing half of the story. The current gender imbalance in the art world, and in society overall, shows that women and their achievements are not valued on the same level as their male counterparts. It鈥檚 the result of a longstanding, systemic gender bias. Even something as simple as the question 鈥淐an you name five women artists?鈥 is not met with a simple answer. While the accomplishments of men are so ingrained in our collective consciousness, women have been erased, ignored, and forgotten. #5WomenArtists puts a well-deserved spotlight on women.
A: How do you hope #5WomenArtists will impact the arts landscape?
EH: I hope #5WomenArtists raises awareness and spurs people to take action, whether by actively researching and learning about women artists, or speaking up when they are in a gallery or museum and don鈥檛 see any art by women. If they can鈥檛 name five women artists, I hope it encourages them to ask why that is and make an effort to be more aware of the issues surrounding gender parity in the arts.
A: This year, the initiative is placing a focus on women artists of colour. This is incredibly important. Can you explain why it is so vital to foreground these voices in particular?
EH: Women have never received equal treatment in the art world鈥攁nd it鈥檚 even worse for women of colour, who are often at a double disadvantage. They remain dramatically underrepresented in museums, galleries and at auction. As challenging as it is for people to name five women artists, it鈥檚 even more difficult for people to name five women artists of colour. #5WomenArtists has helped to raise awareness about the status of women in the art world generally, and we hope that this year it will help focus efforts to spotlight phenomenal women of colour working in the arts.
A: The powerful #MeToo stories had a global impact in 2017. How crucial is it 鈥 in a digital age 鈥 to utilise social media platforms as a way of spreading awareness and catalysing change?
EH: The first step to addressing any problem is raising awareness that there is an issue 鈥攁nd the tools of social media help to amplify those messages. Since there鈥檚 low-to-no barrier to participate, every voice can be heard. Social media can help open up that dialogue and get people involved with issues that affect everyone.
A: How can individuals get involved in the campaign?
EH: It鈥檚 easy! If you have favourite women artists鈥攕hare their work on social media and include the hashtag. Challenge friends and family to name five. Go to a museum and snap photos of works by women that you just discovered and share them. If you need more inspiration, search the hashtag to see what other people are posting. It鈥檚 a great resource.
A: Can you name a selection of institutions taking part?
EH: The Hammer, The Studio Museum in Harlem; Albright-Knox Art Gallery; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; National Gallery of Art; LACMA and Tate are among the 270 organizations who have already signed on to participate again this year. We鈥檝e also heard from 50 institutions that will be joining the campaign for the first time this year, including the North Carolina Museum of Art and the San Antonio Museum of Art, in addition to university museums including Harvard Art Museums and the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University.
A: Do you have any personal favourite female artists?
EH: It鈥檚 impossible to choose but I love Amy Sherald鈥檚 portraits鈥擭MWA currently has two on view. I was so excited to hear Sherald talk at the museum about her process and influences. I鈥檓 always moved by Iraqi artist Hayv Kahraman鈥檚 figurative works exploring issues of gender, violence, and immigration. I only just learned about her during the 2016 exhibition NO MAN鈥橲 LAND at the museum.
A: What does the NMWA have on the horizon for 2018?
EH: We鈥檙e hosting our fifth Art & Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon in March to improve entries about women artists on Wikipedia. Our next exhibition, Women House, opens on 9 March and features work by more than 30 artists who explore ideas of women and the home. In March, we are also hosting a Fresh Talk鈥攖he signature program of our public programs initiative鈥攚ith a conversation between museum directors from the Mus茅e d鈥橭rsay, Tate Modern and Uffizi Gallery.
The #5womenartists campaign launches 1 March. Find out more .
Credits:
1.聽LaToya Ruby Frazier for The New York Times.
