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[1976]

BACKGROUND

In 1972, artist Judy Chicago, graphic designer Sheila de Bretteville, and art historian Arlene Raven formulated plans for The Feminist Studio Workshop. They sought to organize an alternative school for women based on a desire to support and develop a female perspective in the arts. Together with other women's art and socio-political groups, the Feminist Studio Workshop founded "The Woman's Building," named after the structure at the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. (It was build by the first woman architect to graduate from MIT.)

The Woman's Building is a public center for Women's culture, welcoming women of all ages, classes, cultures, ethnic origins, and races. It provides the space in which women can develop the forms through with their culture becomes public and known.

The Woman's Building houses the Feminist Studio Workshop (an intensive two-year educational program), the Center for Feminist Art Historical Studies, the Extension Program, Olivia Records, A Performance Space, Sisterhood Bookstore, Women's Community Press, the Women's Graphic Center, the Women's Community and Rental Galleries, the Identified Woman Cafe, the Women's Slide Registry, and the Women's Switchboard. The Woman's Building has begun to realize an important goal -- to make women's culture known and easily accessible.

Active membership is encouraged at The Woman's Building as part of that process. As members of The Building, women have access to all the facilities. Women are encouraged to view and respond to each other's work and to attend shows, readings, films, and events of all kinds. The Extension Program offers courses and workshops where women learn new skills.