As NAWA moves into its 135th year of empowering women artists, there is still a need for a women focused arts organization. There has been a recent uptick in recognition of women and people of color in the arts, but there is nevertheless a long and difficult road ahead to gain full recognition in museums, galleries and in the arts industry in general. NAWA continues the mission to educate, exhibit and empower women artists and to clear the path to assuming their rightful place in the canon of art history.

None of us can do this alone. At NAWA, which is mostly a volunteer run organization, we ask your help in providing funding for our members to continue to promote the mission which will help to catapult us forward towards the goals we have been working towards since 1889.

These are a few of the programs currently in place:

Exhibitions & Competitions: Signature, Associate, Graduating Students and Open Calls

  • In-Person
  • Online
  • Receptions
  • Artist Talks and Panels

Historical Research Project: Recovering and documenting the history of NAWA as an organization and its members for an eventual publicly searchable database

  • Past Presidents
  • Organization documentation
  • Honorary Vice Presidents
  • Focus Articles on events, milestones and key figures

Professional Business Practices for Artists. A Monthly Program for members focusing on professional business practices. The past programs have been:

  • Branding For Artists
  • The Written Brush: Unveiling the Importance of Writing for Artists
  • Email Marketing for Artists
  • Website Focus and Practices for Artists
  • How To Make a Business Plan
  • Business Tips for Artists
  • Networking for Artists
  • Social Media

Programs

  • Imaginary Playground: A project involving NAWA educator members and their students
  • Art In Conversation With Farrin: A monthly interview featuring an individual Signature member available on the NAWA YouTube Channel
  • Artist of the Week: One Signature Artist featured each week distributed via email
  • Noon With NAWA: A monthly zoom meeting hosted by the NAWA President answering member questions about NAWA and also a lively conversation about art

Marketing

  • Social Media. Thousands of followers are now in the NAWA audience with daily postings to NAWA social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn & Threads
  • Members Official Facebook Group generates community, conversations and sharing by NAWA Members
  • Press Releases of upcoming opportunities for artists and show openings
  • Public postings on listing websites of open opportunities for artists nationwide.
  • Two Yearly Membership Drives with extensive publicizing
  • Fund Raising Opportunities

Publications: Internally generated publications

  • NAWA NOW: The NAWA Magazine
  • NAWA News: Weekly blog posts responding to member questions and informational articles
  • This Week With NAWA newsletter: A weekly newsletter summarizing current opportunities available to NAWA members

Chapters

  • Massachusetts Chapter
  • South Carolina Chapter
  • Florida Chapter

Growth Efforts

  • Cultivating core groups of NAWA members nationwide
  • Circles of informal gatherings of local or regional women artists
  • Instituting a Micro-Projects offering to engage more volunteers throughout NAWA

Events

  • College Art Association Symposium
  • Chamber of Commerce Trade Show
  • Library Panel for Women’s History Month
  • And more…

Technology

  • Database implementation for record keeping and access for volunteer management
  • Zoom meetings which help to appeal to a national audience of artists
  • A Volunteer Management System about to be onboarded

What will your generous donation to NAWA be used for?

  • Expanded In-Person exhibition opportunities nationwide.
  • Scholarship and Internship program expansion.
  • Development and management of a searchable database for public access to the content of NAWA’s historic research project. [in progress at Rutgers University]
  • Expansion of presentations of NAWA current and past history through Libraries and local and regional Historical Societies nationwide.
  • Creation, printing and distribution of the NAWA Annual Catalog, sent to all Signature members and donors, archived in over 10 high-profile institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, The Library of Congress, and more.
  • Outreach to Colleges and Universities, Educators, Curators, and local Communities for panel discussions including NAWA members and outside professionals
  • General operating expenses, always on the rise!