Women and the Arts Forum Conference 2024 and 2025

The Women and the Arts Forum is making a special contribution to the National Gallery’s bicentenary year of events running between May 2024 and May 2025 with two one-day complementary conferences. Together these events will explore for the first time, holistically and in depth, the presence and contribution of women at the National Gallery over its 200-year history. The first conference on Wednesday 26 June 2024 will focus on women artists in the collection, women copyists and artists-in-residence, and the role of women dealers in the Gallery’s history. The second conference, planned for Monday 3 March 2025, will look to the experience of women trustees and employees.

2024 Conference: Widening the Narrative

Historically, women artists and their achievements have been overlooked, marginalised or omitted from mainstream art discourse. By acknowledging and studying women’s roles in art, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of artistic development, challenge traditional narratives and promote gender equality in the art world. Additionally, recognising women’s contributions enriches our appreciation of diverse perspectives and influences on artistic expression throughout history.

The Women and the Arts Forum Conference 2024 is a significant addition to the National Gallery’s bicentenary celebrations that focuses on women artists, copyists, dealers and artists-in-residence. With two key areas of exploration, the conference delves into rethinking the dialogue and curation around ‘women artists’, while also highlighting the pivotal role women have played in shaping both the Gallery’s rich past and the broader landscape of art history.

Details on how to sign up will be posted on 13 May 2024.

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Download the Conference Programme

Women and the Arts Forum Conference 2024 – Programme Overview [PDF, 0.6MB]

The Women and the Arts Conference is generously supported by the Diane Apostolos-Cappadona Trust in honour of Stacia Apostolos.