Virginia: Celebrating Women in the Arts

Several years ago the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) began hosting regular roundtable discussions among the state’s major arts organizations, with the goal of encouraging these groups to play a strong leadership role in promoting the arts statewide. In May 2007, this group agreed that the arts community needed a high visibility project to demonstrate the breadth and diversity of the arts in Virginia. The result was MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts. A statewide celebration, MINDS WIDE OPEN features performances, exhibitions, literary readings and films that honor the many creative talents and civic contributions of women artists, arts managers, patrons and advocates.

Read an in-depth article by VCA Executive Director Peggy Baggett about the history, development and implementation of this unique statewide celebration.