Muskegon Museum of Art Expands Facility and Launches Exhibition Showcasing Women Artists

# The Bennett Schmidt Pavilion: A Landmark Expansion for Women in the Arts

The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA) has taken a monumental step in fostering diversity and inclusion in the arts with the opening of the **Bennett Schmidt Pavilion**. This new expansion nearly doubles the size of the historic Midwestern museum, reinforcing MMA’s commitment to showcasing figurative realist paintings by women artists. The pavilion is named in honor of **Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt**, passionate collectors and advocates for women painters, who donated **$12 million in artworks and cash** to support this transformative project.

## A Historic Commitment to Women Artists

One of the defining aspects of the Bennett Schmidt Pavilion is its dedication to **displaying artwork exclusively by women artists**—an initiative taken by fewer than **five museums worldwide**. The donation by Bennett and Schmidt includes **more than 150 paintings** from their renowned **Bennett Collection**, featuring works by both historical greats and contemporary talents.

The inaugural exhibition in the new space, **”Transcending Tradition: Selection of Works from The Bennett Collection of Women Realists,”** is now open and will **run through May 11**. This exhibition highlights significant works by **Artemisia Gentileschi, Mary Cassatt, Agnes Martin, Elaine de Kooning, Harmonia Rosales, Julie Bell, Andrea Kowch, and Katie O’Hagan**, among others.

## The Bennett Prize: Supporting Emerging Women Painters

Bennett and Schmidt’s dedication to elevating women in the arts extends beyond their collection. In 2018, they established **The Bennett Prize**, a prestigious **$50,000 biennial award** designed to propel the careers of **women figurative realist painters** who have yet to achieve full professional recognition. As the largest art award exclusively for women painters, The Bennett Prize has already impacted several emerging artists.

The prize is currently in its **fourth cycle**, with ten finalists selected. The **winner will be announced at the MMA on May 15, 2024**, further cementing the museum’s role as a leading institution for women artists.

## Addressing the Gender Disparity in Museum Collections

Despite progress in the art world, women artists remain significantly underrepresented in museum collections. According to the **Burns Halperin Report (2022)**, only **11% of artworks acquired by top U.S. museums over the past decade** were by women. Similarly, a **2019 Artnet News report** revealed that of **260,470 works acquired** by 26 leading U.S. museums between 2008 and 2018, **fewer than 15%** were by female artists.

The impact of the **Bennett Schmidt Pavilion** and its exhibitions directly challenges these statistics, carving out a dedicated space for women artists in an institution with over a century of history. The new expansion not only enriches the MMA’s permanent collection but sets a **precedent for museums worldwide** to embrace gender parity in their collections and exhibition programming.

## A Vision for the Future

“The opening of the Bennett Schmidt Pavilion marks the start of a new MMA,” said **Kirk Hallman, Executive Director of the MMA**. “Steven and Elaine’s vision is one shared by the MMA. The Bennett-Schmidt gift is a call to action institutionally, encouraging both the Muskegon Museum of Art and other museums to continually expand opportunities for women artists.”

Steven Alan Bennett echoed this sentiment, stating: *“The artwork in Transcending Tradition catapults the MMA into the forefront of progressive museums that recognize the primacy and power of the work of women painters. What has been an exceptionally good collection at the MMA is now augmented with many powerful works by women that span the generations.”*

## Plan Your Visit

The **Bennett Schmidt Pavilion** at the **Muskegon Museum of Art** represents a pivotal moment in the global art landscape. With its inaugural exhibition **“Transcending Tradition”** running through **May 11**, visitors now have a unique opportunity to experience this revolutionary collection firsthand.

For more information, visit: [muskegonartmuseum.org](https://bit.ly/3CJ6uzD).