Women in Museums Network 

The second annual Women in Museum event, hosted on March 7th, 2024 at the Kruisherenhotel in Maastricht, once again fostered productive conversation about issues affecting women in the sector and how to promote fair gender representation at senior levels. Providing a rare opportunity for networking amongst women from a wide spread of geographical areas, the organisers hope that it will also lead to increased collaboration between individuals and organisations in the years to come. Organized by Mercè Valderrey Art, in collaboration with the Athena Art Foundation, the event was oversubscribed and attracted notable figures from museums worldwide. 

The highlight of this year's event was the speech delivered by Caroline Campbell, director of the National Gallery of Ireland. Campbell shared her insights and perspectives on equality and inclusivity in the arts, drawing from her career trajectory as a woman museum director, and addressed the challenges women often encounter. 

Additionally, in this year's event, Mercè Valderrey presented a map of galleries participating at the TEFAF, showcasing artworks by women artists at the fair. This initiative was warmly embraced by galleries, with 57 participating and submitting over 400 objects. The map served as a helpful guide for clients interested in acquiring works by women artists while also amplifying visibility for female creators. Both the guests of the event and the general public attending the fair expressed enthusiastic support for this initiative, celebrating its significance in promoting gender equity and the artistic contributions of women.

The extremely positive response to the event was welcomed by Mercè Valderrey Art and the Athena Art Foundation who remain committed to supporting the ongoing commitment of supporting gender equality and diversity in the arts. As the event continues to gain momentum, organizers are already looking ahead to future editions.

Museums and institutions participating in the event:

Victoria and Albert Museum in London ● Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam ● Detroit Institute of Art ● Museum Fine Arts Houston ● National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin ● Princeton University Art Museum ● Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Geneva ● Cleveland Art Museum ●Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna ● Baltimore Museum of Art ● Frick Collection in New York ● Virginia Museum of Fine Arts ● Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill ● Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht ● Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam ● Portland Art Museum ● Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden ●  Milwaukee Art Museum ● National Gallery Washington ● Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Finnish National Gallery in Helsinki ● Saint Louis Art Museum ● Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco ● High Museum in Atlanta ●The Ringling, Sarasota ● Museum Fine Arts Boston ● Sotheby’s Institute of Art ● RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History in Den Haag ● Art Loss Register, London ● IFAR,  International Foundation for Art Research, New York.

© Photographs courtesy of Harry Heuts.