(clockwise, from top left) Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya (photo by Will Martinez); Anna Deavere Smith (photo courtesy of Shutterstock for NEA); and Julie Garreau (photo courtesy of Cheyenne River Youth Project).
This Women’s History Month let’s celebrate all of the women artists, culture bearers, and arts workers who have helped others to heal, to find connection, and to thrive. Women like Anna Deavere Smith whose seminal work has helped so many of us learn about, understand, and process difficult aspects of our history through writing, theater and film. Women like Julie Garreau, the chief executive officer of the Cheyenne River Youth Project, whose work to help native youth discover better futures revolves around the arts and cultural expressions that are meaningful to them including traditional and contemporary dance, beadwork, and graffiti. And women like Amanda Phingbodhikappiya, a multidisciplinary artist and educator whose work lifts up the often unseen labor of women and historically marginalized groups.
These women are making history while following in the footsteps and standing on the shoulders of other creative, brilliant, generous, women who came before them.
Please check the NEA website throughout the month as we highlight other women making history through the arts.