The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum will recognize Art Museum Day, a celebration of museums around the world, organized by the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD).
Art Museum Day underscores the critical role art museums play as cultural resources in their communities and celebrates the unique opportunities AAMD member museums offer visitors to engage with works of art. The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum will offer special activities and promotions throughout the day, including a tour of historical textile masterpieces and contemporary fiber art and fashion on view in the exhibition Unraveling Identity: Our Textiles, Our Stories, a one-day-only membership special and a 15 percent discount on jewelry, scarves, books and other items in the museum’s gift shop.
“Our museum’s mission ties with what Art Museums Day represents,” said John Wetenhall, museum director. “We are pleased to join the international museum community in welcoming the public to share our commitment to the study and appreciation of art, history and culture.”
The day seeks to raise awareness of how museums can enhance cross-cultural experiences and exchanges. Art Museum Day coincides with International Museum Day and specifically highlights the role of art museums in North America. In 2014, more than 180 AAMD member museums across America participated in Art Museum Day.
“Art museums are invaluable communal spaces that bring people together to experience the arts across cultures and generations,” said Chris Anagnos, executive director of AAMD. “AAMD is so pleased that the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum is joining us in this celebration by welcoming everyone in D.C. to participate in Art Museum Day.”
The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum opened on March 21, with three exhibitions: Unraveling Identity: Our Textiles, Our Stories, The Textile Museum’s largest exhibition to date, as well as Seat of Empire: Planning Washington, 1790–1801 and The Civil War and the Making of Modern Washington, two shows curated from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection. The museum offers educational programs, including free family art activities on Saturday afternoons. Visit the online calendar for details.
The custom-built museum displays The Textile Museum’s globally recognized collections of nearly 20,000 textiles and related objects, and pieces owned by the university, including the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection of nearly 1,000 artifacts documenting the history of Washington, D.C.
Association of Art Museum Directors
The Association of Art Museum Directors represents 242 art museums across the United States, Canada and Mexico—from regional museums to large museums in major urban centers. International Museum Day is organized annually around the world by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). AAMD’s Art Museum Day is an opportunity to focus attention on the role of art museums in North America.
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