Philadelphia Museum of Art - Information : Affiliates : Women's Committee

The Women’s Committee was founded in 1883 by Elizabeth Duane Gillespie, a great-granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin. Mrs. Gillespie was a notable Philadelphian in her own right who organized many philanthropic endeavors including the Women’s Pavilion at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The present Women’s Committee continues that tradition of community service as an independently chartered volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the Museum.

Today’s Women’s Committee has 45 active members who produce events such as the annual nationally acclaimed Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Small Indulgences, the biennial Photography Competition, as well as opening night galas for special exhibitions at the Museum. Over the years the Committee has also managed projects such as ArtWorks, a cookbook, a greeting card competition, and HolidayCard. The Committee funds the Museum Guides program and Form In Art.

Photography Portfolio Competition

The Women's Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 Photography Portfolio Competition. View the winning images >>

A jury of nationally recognized photography experts will select six entries for inclusion in a 16" x 20" portfolio to be published in an edition of 25 in fall 2010. Peter Barberie, The Brodsky Curator of Photographs, Alfred Stieglitz Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, will select one additional curator's choice entry to be sold as an individual print in a limited edition. The Museum will exhibit the portfolio and the individual print in fall 2010, and an event will be held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to celebrate the production of the portfolio.

For more information visit www.pmaphotocompetition.org.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show

The Women's Committee also presents the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, the single largest annual fundraising event for the Museum. The money raised is used to purchase works of art and craft for the permanent collections, fund conservation projects, and support exhibitions and programs for the Museum. Known as the nation's finest retail craft exhibition and sale, the Craft Show presents the work of approximately 200 of the finest and most dynamic craft artists in the United States and abroad. It is held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in early November.

For more information visit www.twcpma.org.