Virtual 'Suffragette Tours' highlight women's history in art during June

As part of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ yearlong celebration of women’s suffrage, the Detroit Institute of Arts will be hosting virtual art tours at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, and 1 p.m. Thursday, June 18. The Suffragette Tours will feature work related to women’s history, including art created by those involved in the passage of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote. Each event will feature different artwork related to the topic.

“We are happy that even during this time of physical distancing, we are able to find ways to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment,” Board Vice Chairwoman Marcia Gershenson (D-Bloomfield Township) said. “These virtual tours are exciting because they take a look at the amazing
accomplishments of women through yet another lens – art. We are so glad we were able to make this happen with our partners at the DIA.”

The tours will be hosted by DIA docents and are part of the museum’s “Thursdays at the Museum” series. The series, which is generally a special program each Thursday for adults 55 and older, was reworked during the stay at home order to be a virtual experience available to all ages. Those interested can visit the Facebook event pages for each tour for more details and information about technical requirements.

“The DIA is proud to work with Oakland County and Commissioner Gershenson to celebrate the heroes of the movement that created equality at the ballot box for women in America,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, director, president and CEO of the DIA. “We are honored to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment with the residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.”

On March 14, 2019, the Board established the Celebration of Women’s Suffrage Ad Hoc Committee. Gershenson serves as chair of the committee, which also includes Commissioners Angela Powell (D- Pontiac) and Tom Kuhn (R-Troy). Throughout 2020, the committee has been inviting Oakland County residents to learn more about the history of women's suffrage through a variety of programming and events.

To register and participate in the June 11 event, visit bit.ly/SuffragetteTour11. To register and participate in the June 18 event, visit bit.ly/SuffragetteTour18.

For additional information about the Board of Commissioners, visit www.oakgov.com/boc or call 248-858-0100.