Washington, DC was home to many independent art spaces in the 1970s and 1980s. One of these venues was the Washington Women’s Arts Center, founded in 1975 and located at 1821 Q Street NW. Another art space was Botswana, located inside the Washington Project for the Arts building at 400 7th Street NW, for just two years: 1985-1987.

Learn how these spaces - special then, but even more rare now - offered a unique, artistic, and creative quality to the city’s landscape through the people who were involved in these two venues. Ray Barker, Archivist with DC Public Library, will lead a conversation with Judith Benderson and Lucy Blankstein of the Washington Women’s Arts Center, and Lynn McCary and Paula Schumann, of Botswana. Through presentations and conversations, attendees will leave learning how these spaces began and by whom, learn of the artists and artwork they featured, and of the legacy left behind.

Registration requested, but not required. This event is in partnership with the National Gallery of Art.

Photo credit: Gail Rebhan.