Introduction
The Art of Women exhibit, now in its 15th year, showcases the collaborative spirit of the Anne Arundel Community College Visual Arts faculty and our amazing students. Faculty invite artists who create work in various disciplines to participate in this exhibition. Their artwork demonstrates different processes, skills, and concepts explored at the college.
More visibility will lead to more recognition
According to the Burns Halperin Report* only 11 percent of art acquisitions and 14.9 percent of art exhibitions, at 31 U.S. museums between 2008 and 2020, were of work by female-identifying artists and only 2.2 percent were by Black American artists. If women and people of color don’t have the same chance to have their work seen and bought, how can they build sustainable and meaningful careers? Comprehensive support for these artists is needed in both mental and financial forms that will allow them to identify as professional creators, engage in their creative practice and maintain their careers.
Like what the business and educational worlds have implemented, the Art World would do well to embrace Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (DEIA) practices such as hiring and empowering female executives, establishing diversity quotas for all staff positions, hiring a board makeup of community leaders and progressive activists, creating employee resource groups of shared identities, and including childcare benefits as part of employee compensation packages. Let’s demand and support these inclusionary changes.
Anne Arundel Community College prioritizes DEIA measures in our courses, student services, college environment and in our partnerships with the community. The Visual Arts department takes these initiatives seriously and embraces programming that champions inclusivity. The Art of Women is one such event that gives female identifying and non-binary artists the opportunity to exhibit. Along with exhibiting work, our artists practice professional behind the scenes steps like transporting artwork, communicating with a curator, preparing an artist talk and digital files, and meeting deadlines.
Enjoy the strong work of these artists. Come in person if you can and bring friends!
Prof. Dawn Bond
Exhibition Coordinator and Curator
* “The 2022 Burns-Halperin Report does vital work by quantifying the (distressing) degree of inequity among different demographics of artists in U.S. museums, global auction houses, and commercial galleries. Data-led research is often necessary to prime any industry to make meaningful change, and the art world needs a nudge more than most.” Taken from an artnet.com article by Tim Schneider, entitled The Burns Halperin Report, 12/20/2022