ICOM is committed to promoting gender equality and advocates for diversity and empowerment of women in the museum sector and beyond.
Since 2017, ICOM has been promoting the role of women in museums during International Women’s Day through the hashtag #WomenInMuseums, which has become a hub in social media platforms to share and celebrate the work of female museum professionals, women artists and women in history. With this continued campaign, we aim at highlighting the many ways in which women shape museums, from shifting narratives to fighting for inclusion.
“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” Gloria Steinem, writer, lecturer, political activist, and feminist organizer.
On International Women’s Day we celebrate collective global activism and highlight the work of museums who accelerate action, innovate, break stereotypes, address discrimination and drive inclusivity.
We would like to spotlight some of these initiatives and contents related to this subject:
- The UNWomen #ForAllWomenAndGirls campaign marks the 30th year of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and is a bold call for action for all women and girls worldwide to stand up for Rights, Empowerment and Equality.
- The #AccelerateAction global campaign emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
- The Virtual Museum of African Feminists is a newly launched digital platform dedicated to honouring the legacies of feminist icons across Africa. Serving as a digital archive that features a 360-degree view, it ensures their contributions are preserved, celebrated, and serves as a catalyst for future generations of changemakers.
- The Intelligence of Painting exhibition is organised by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) and explores the energy of contemporary painting in Australia today through the work of 14 Australian women artists.
- The Women take the street! Rebellion, subversion, emancipation exhibition was organised by the University of Angers (France) and AFéMuse (Association for a Museum of Feminism) following the collection of objects used in feminist demonstrations. AFéMuse also organises the ‘Museums and Feminisms’ seminar, launched in 2023, which will continue (mainly in French) in 2025.
- There Were Important Women in the History of Prints, a lecture hosted by the Paul Mellon Centre on March 12th, celebrates the collaborative Open Access volume Female Printmakers, Printsellers, and Print Publishers in the 18th Century: The Imprint of Women, c. 1700–1830.
- This issue of Museum International ‘Museums and Gender’ looks at gender issues in museums, and the role of museums in a world prioritising gender equality. It focuses on gender representation within museum management, operations and trusteeship, and in collections, exhibitions, education and public programmes.
This month, two ICOM Voices articles focusing on women and feminist issues in museums will also be published. Stay tuned!
