Women Artists Foward Fund

The Women Artists Forward Fund calls attention to gender inequities in the arts, explores the history and contemporary practice of women's philanthropy in the visual arts, and works to solve underlying inequities in their regional arts community. Women Artists Forward Fund was inspired by Jean Pond Miner's Forward sculpture that stands in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol, and the revolutionary women who financially supported her practice back in 1893. Through Pond Miner's inspirational work, WAFF founders, Brenda Baker and Bird Ross created the social practice piece, Being Forward. This work calls attention to gender inequities in the arts, explores the history and contemporary practice of women's philanthropy in the visual arts, and works to solve underlying inequities in their regional arts community. Being Forward brings attention to the rich diversity of women. Additionally, Baker and Ross launched the Women Artists Forward Fund Forward Art Prize in 2019 during the 100th anniversary of Wisconsin's ratification of the 19th Amendment. The Women Artists Forward Fund ranks among the top three funds for women artists in the nation in terms of dollars awarded annually. The Fund and Prize open up important new opportunities for women artists, helps rectify current and historical inequities, and contributes positively to a thriving, inclusive arts community. Being Forward, the Women Artist Forward Fund and the Forward Art Prize comes at a time when gender inequities in the arts and inadequate arts support in Wisconsin, specifically Dane County, are sadly not a thing of the history books, and require all of our efforts to help rectify.

Tags : #FineArt