In 1974, the first National Women's Music Festival was held on the campus of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in response to the underrepresentation of women in the music industry and with the possibility of building an alternative culture. The National Women's Music Festival became an annual event and continued in Champaign-Urbana for the next six years. In 1982, the festival was officially incorporated as a not-for-profit organization called Women In the Arts/National Women's Music Festival, Inc., and moved to the Indiana University campus in Bloomington, Indiana. Over the years, the organization has expanded its scope to include other events such as dances, women's film festivals, and other events promoting women's music, art, and culture. The organization changed its name to Women In the Arts, Inc., in 1995 to represent the broader base of activities the organization produces.
Since NWMF left Indiana University we have been seeking a permanent home and finally found one in 2008 in Madison, WI. The 2009 NWMF will be held at the Madison Marriott West July 2-5. Learn more at www.wiaonline.org
