Celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month at Your Museum
It’s International Women’s Day! How are you honoring the stories and lives of women at your museum?
Detail of the three graces in Sandro Bottecelli’s Primavera, c.1470-80… but pink.
While I would argue that we should be trying harder to uplift the voices and stories of women every day, March is Women’s History Month and a great time to think about how your museum or organization can uplift women right now. Here are just a few ways to dip your toes into celebrating women’s history month at your museum.
Look at your collection. Are there women artists or creators that you can highlight? What interesting subjects are featured in your artworks? Are there objects in your collection that can be connected back to contemporary women’s issues? What objects do you have that tell the stories of women’s lives… what stories can you tell that break down traditional narratives of womanhood?
Celebrate your staff! Who are the female-identifying staff that power your organization? If they are okay with it, celebrate their work! Visitors love to learn more about the people who are behind the exhibitions, programs, tours, and spaces that they love. Staff appreciate knowing that their work is acknowledged and celebrated. I mean, it’s best if we can find ways to do this all year, but take the opportunity to step into this right now!
Jump into female-friendly programming: What events can you hold that center women’s stories. Are there lectures that you can coordinate that tell interesting stories about women and their lived experiences? Think about programs that create opportunities for connection and joy between women in your community. Whether it’s a friendship bracelet making table with taylor swift dance party out on the lawn, or a woman artist leading a female-form sketch class, there are so many ways to center women in programming while creating opportunities for education, fun, and connection!
Forge connections within your community. Talk to local women’s shelters. Seek out female-centered social service groups. Find clubs that support young women’s educational efforts. Make time to get to know them, and talk about how your museum can support them. Can you collaborate on a program that uplifts their work while supporting your mission too? Are there opportunities for storytelling and pop-up exhibitions in the community or on site? Maybe a group of women could benefit from a social outing together which you can support by helping to plan a sponsored visit or special tour. You will never be sorry for making space for these conversations, and maybe they will lead to longterm relationships.
Listen to the women you know! Can you make time this month to coordinate a listing/discussion session or effort of some kind at your museum? If you are in leadership, I challenge you to make space this month to talk to your staff and volunteers, and open channels of communication, specifically with female-identifying people at your site. Do they feel safe at your site? How can you support a healthy work-life balance? Yes, these conversations definitely impact men, too, but you might be surprised about what you learn when centering the conversation in this way. How can you make sure there are opportunities for people to have their voices heard year round? Note: These conversations can be complex— it may be best to hire a moderator that specializes in these topics to make the most of your efforts and create a professional, safe space.
Thematic social media posts, programs, and pop-ups are a great way to fill your calendar, but I encourage you to spend time thinking through how this can be implemented into the core of your museum practice all year long.
What did we miss? Tell us how you are celebrating women today, this month, and all year long at your museum!