Advancing Women Artists Foundation


Advancing Women Artists Foundation is an American not-for-profit organization, with headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Florence, Italy. AWA is committed to identifying and restoring artwork by Florence's female artists in the city’s museums, churches, and storehouses. The foundation achieves its mission through sponsoring restoration of artwork, and promoting research on female artists. As of 2018, AWA has restored 61 paintings and sculptures from the 15th century to the 19th century. It supports the creation of educational materials and events, including books, television documentaries, seminars, and conferences.

Goals

In addition to restoration, research, and exhibition, the ultimate goal of AWA is to provide art by women an exhibition space of its own in Florence with satellite spaces established worldwide, where paintings and sculptures can be exhibited and eventually return to Florence permanently.

Creation and governance

In 2003, author and philanthropist Dr. Jane Fortune founded The Florence Committee of the National Museum for Women in the Arts, an Italian not-for-profit association in Florence. In 2009, Fortune created a new organization, the Advancing Women Artists Foundation, its American non-profit sister organization, which allowed for more opportunities for American involvement.
AWA is supported by private contributors and institutions that are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting works by women artists, particularly in Florence, Italy. The Board of Trustees holds fiduciary responsibility for its organizational activities and financial well-being. AWA is supported by an International Advisory Council and assisted by an honorary Florentine Council of Advisors composed of museum directors, art historians, restorers, city officials, and art experts who advise the Foundation on its restorations, publications, and awareness-raising projects.

AWA's honors program

Advancing Women Artists supports an ongoing annual awards program honoring museum directors in Florence, women restorers, patronesses of the arts and contemporary artists for their outstanding contributions to the culture of Florence. The awards are designed to give recognition to women within the Fine Arts sector by commending their commitment to enhancing Florence and its artistic heritage.

Partial list of restorations