The Idle Class magazine featured the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts on page 10 of The Holidays Issue. Print versions of the magazine are available at various locations around the state.
Nurturing Talent: How the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts elevates artists
WORDS/ RACHEL FARHAT and PHOTO/ KODY FORD
When asked to list famous artists, most would likely name Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Picasso, or da Vinci. And while they might mention paintings featuring women, they're far less likely to recall works created by women. This disparity is precisely what the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (ACNMWA) aims to address.
"Artists need recognition and support. Women artists earn less and are scanted in museum collections," said ACNMWA President MaryRoss Taylor.
Founded in 1989, the ACNMWA is dedicated to providing Arkansas women-identifying artists with the necessary exposure and resources to gain visibility. The volunteer-run nonprofit organization elevates local artists through grants, awards, internships, and exhibitions, ranging from local to international. The organization grants the Artist Award to an accomplished woman-identifying Arkansan artist each year. The recipient is given $4,000 to use at her discretion, whether for research, supplies, studio time, travel, or personal responsibilities, such as child care.
The ACNMWA is approaching its thirtieth year of Artist Awards. Its 2024 winner, Lisa Krannichfeld, is the latest in a line of talented women who have used the grant for professional gain. She rented studio space, began work on a children's book and purchased hardware and software to assist with creating mural designs.
"I just recently created two new murals, both in the downtown Little Rock area. I was able to visualize and refine my designs using the hardware and software purchased with this grant. Both are images of dragons but in different styles and col or palettes and are located at 1331 West 2nd Street and in the art alley behind 1501 South Main Street," Krannichfeld said.
In addition to supporting established artists, the ACNMWA invests in emerging talent. Each year, the organization awards a $3,000 stipend to one Arkansas college student for an internship with a museum, gallery or cultural organization. This competitive opportunity enriches the student's education and provides industry experience and connections.
Alongside these annual funding opportunities, the ACNMWA has featured the work of underrepresented and promising artists through its Women to Watch exhibitions since 2008. These exhibitions are curated by nationally approved Arkansas arts professionals and displayed in Washington, D.C., granting contributors access to creative opportunities and national press connections. The exhibitions are followed by a year-long state-wide tour of all its nominees.
Installation artist Aimee Papazian's work, "In Which End Up?", was selected for the 2024 Women to Watch exhibit. She said, "[T]hrough the platform provided by ACNMWA, the work wound up being seen by thousands in the National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. and was chosen for the cover of the catalog. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to get the work seen on this scale."
The ACNMWA plans to continue and expand its efforts to advance Arkansas women in the arts. Art in Arkansas thrives thanks to the talent, commitment and generosity of Arkansas women. ACNMWA is part of an eminent his tory of female creators, museum and gallery founders, curators, collectors, advocates and teachers in schools and in communities'' Taylor said.
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