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July/August 1976

FEMINIST EDUCATION AT THE FEMINIST STUDIO WORKSHOP, THE WOMAN'S BUILDING LOS ANGELES

For publication in an Anthology on Feminist Education, edited by Charlotte Bunch, [[strikethrough]] by [[/strikethrough]] to be published by Daughters Inc. 1977.

By Ruth Iskin

Forward: Brief History

The Feminist Studio Workshop is an independent educational institution for women in the arts and humanities. The goal of the F.S.W. from the start was to create a learning environ [[strikethrough]] e [[/strikethrough]] mnt for women ^ [[that would be]] free of any constrictions of male dominated institutions, that would address itself to the real needs of women and create a feminist community in which women generate feminist art - art that expresses women's experiences and points of view. During the three years of our existence [[strikethrough]] (founded in 1973) [[/strikethrough]], we have educated 105 full-time students who came from all over the U.S. and some from Europe and Canada. We offer one-year and two-year programs with degrees available through affiliation with several Colleges presently including Goddard, Antioch, and International College. In addition, approximately 1500 local women have participated in a wide range of courses, workshops and special programs offered to the community at large on a part time basis through the Extension Program at the Woman's Building. The methods and ideas about which I am writing in this article are based on my experience as a member of the staff-collective of the F.S.W. and were developed with my colleagues: designer Sheila de Bretteville, art historian Arlene Raven, artists Suzanne Lacy, printer and graphic artist Helen Roth, and writer Deena Metzger. The F.S.W. was founded by Sheila de Bretteville, Arlene Raven, and artist Judy Chicago in 1973 (Chicago left at the end of the first year, and at that point the rest of the staff members joined).1