Women of the Rijksmuseum
For everyone a story
Women of the Rijksmuseum is the Rijksmuseum research programme that centres on an improved gender balance. The project started on 8 March 2022, International Women’s Day, with the display of three works by women artists in the museum’s Gallery of Honour.
WOMEN OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM FUND
To finance the project, the Rijksmuseum, together with private donors, established the fund Women of the Rijksmuseum on March 8, 2022. We have also joined forces with CHANEL as our partner. This named fund supports research, education, publications and acquisitions that increase the visibility of women in cultural history, particularly the cultural history of the Netherlands, on an ongoing basis.
MISSION
Women of the Rijksmuseum conducts research with the aim of strengthening and embedding the role of women in cultural history to properly reflect gender equality and the importance of diversity and inclusion.
AIMS
What are the legacies of women in Dutch history and to what extent are they visible in the Rijksmuseum collection?
The purpose of this research project is to raise the visibility of women’s contributions to Dutch cultural history and incorporate their stories in displays of our collection, exhibitions, media channels and publications. The three central activities of this research project are:
- Identifying and gathering information on female makers represented in our collection and making their records available in our database.
- Conducting research into the life stories of the women represented in the collection and conducting object-based research to supplement missing information on represented women.
- Conducting research into the historical development of the Rijksmuseum as an institution, with particular attention for women collectors, donors, patrons and former staff members.
PUBLICATIONS
The outcomes of research conducted by the Women of the Rijksmuseum regularly appear in publications. Please click here for the complete list.
SYMPOSIUMS
From 2022 to 2026 the Women of the Rijksmuseum programme is staging an annual series of international symposiums under the umbrella title Women of the Museum.
RIJKSMUSEUM APP – ‘WOMEN’ AUDIO TOUR
RIJKSMUSEUM BULLETINS
One edition of The Rijksmuseum Bulletin devoted to women was published in 2023, and another will be published on 15 February 2025.
VIDEO – WOMEN OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM
STAFF MEMBERS FUNDED BY THE WOMEN OF THE RIJKSMUSEUM FUND
Jenny Reynaerts, senior curator Paintings, is chair of Women of the Rijksmuseum.
Additional researchers
Laurien van der Werff: Print Room
Marion Anker: History Department
Ceri-Anne van de Geer: Women donors
Anna Koldeweij: Artist Bramine Hubrecht
Naomi Bisping: Applied art
Gabriëlle Negrón: Collection database
Nathalie Ho-Kang-You: Project Assistant
Jessica van den Berg: Intern
The working group is supplemented by representatives from various departments of the Rijksmuseum, namely Education, Visual Arts, Development, the History and Bureau collections, Marketing & Communication, and the Print Room.
CONTACT
If you wish like to contribute or receive more information about donating, please contact us at schenkingen@rijksmuseum.nl or +31 20 6747497
THANKS
Women of the Rijksmuseum is made possible by CHANEL, the Susi Zijderveld Fund, the Familie Krouwels Fund, the Machteld Vos & Willem Sijthoff Fund, the Heleen Dura van Oord Fund, the Kind Courage Monique Maarsen Fund, the Familie Staal Fund, the Karin van Leeuwen Fund, the Dreesmann-Beerkens Fund, the Sofronie Foundation, the Linne & Marijn Pijnenborg Fund, the Jolanda Degen Fund, the Lara Timmerman Fund, the Antoinette Rolloos Hueber Fund, the Hendrikje Crebolder Fund, Amy Novogratz & Mike Velings, the Femke Dijkhuis Fund and the Women of the Rijksmuseum Fund.