Women-Themed

Native American Cultural Festival

About

Fenimore Art Museum expanded its annual performing arts event, “Celebrate Native America,” by adding lecturers, poets, storytellers, singers, dancers, and artisans to further focus on the vital role of women in Native cultures. This theme was inspired by the museum's exhibition, "As They Saw It: Women Artist Then and Now." Throughout the event, the audience had the opportunity to learn from and forge connections with regional Native American communities while exploring the importance of women in the arts.

Intended Outcome

Fenimore Art Museum aimed to engage 500 members of the community at large in artmaking activities and other programs, giving them the opportunity to learn directly from local and regional Native women. These programs highlighted the ways that sisterhood and collaboration have enabled these women to find success in a male-dominated world.

Actual Outcome

“Celebrate Native America” engaged 450 community members and highlighted the opportunity to learn directly from Native women.

Advice Post-Project

Museums seeking to refocus programming can take inspiration from Fenimore Art Museum by expanding existing events with interdisciplinary content tied to a unified theme. Build programs around current exhibitions to create meaningful connections. Invite diverse voices—such as poets, lecturers, dancers, and artisans, whose work reflects the theme—to participate and prioritize lived perspectives to foster education and connection beyond traditional formats.