Washington, DC (April 17, 2023) – The Embassy of Italy in Washington hosted the Spring Gala of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), the first major museum in the world that is dedicated exclusively to collecting and promoting works by women artists since the 1980s.
“The National Museum of Women in the Arts not only plays an essential role in Washington DC’s cultural scene, but also represents a valued partner in celebrating Italian art and in recognizing the important works of women artists,” is how Italian Ambassador to the U.S. Mariangela Zappia, who served as Honorary Chair of the Gala this year together with Anita McBride and Patti White, put it. “I am also particularly proud to celebrate the accomplishments of a prominent Italian woman and successful director, who made history with her Venice Biennale, mostly spotlighting women and non-binary artists,” added the Ambassador.
The Gala Honoree was curator Cecilia Alemani, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Arts, an award that celebrates leadership in creative disciplines. The decorations of the Gala were inspired by the 59th edition of the Venice Biennale “The Milk of Dreams” curated by Alemani herself and referred to themes of nature.
The Embassy of Italy in Washington has had various artistic collaborations with the NMWA; among the most important were the “Women to Watch – Heavy Metal” exhibition, inaugurated at Villa Firenze in 2018, and “Women to Watch – Paper Routes” in 2020 with Italian artist Elisabetta Di Maggio.
