The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

What The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum does

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum (GWTM) is a university-affiliated museum located at 701 21st St. NW on The George Washington University's Foggy Bottom campus in Washington, D.C., with an operations-support conservation facility at GW's Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn. Originally founded as The Textile Museum in 1925 by collector George Hewitt Myers and reopened in its current form on the GW campus in 2015, the institution operates as part of GW under the Office of the Provost and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It maintains three integrated collections: the Textile Museum Collection of more than 21,000 handmade textiles spanning five continents and five millennia; the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection of nearly 4,000 textile fragments; and the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection of nearly 2,000 maps, prints, manuscripts, and artifacts tracing the history of Washington, D.C. The museum also houses four research centers (the Arthur D. Jenkins Library, Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center, Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies, and the Avenir Foundation Conservation and Collections Resource Center), activates its holdings through rotating thematic exhibitions, public programs, and educational outreach, and publishes the peer-reviewed Textile Museum Journal.

The museum serves general public visitors, GW faculty and students, external scholars and researchers, and D.C. community organizations. Its business model is a hybrid of earned and contributed revenue: free public admission with an $8 suggested donation; tiered memberships from Individual ($60) to Patron ($1,000), with reciprocal access to more than 900 partner museums; individual donations, planned giving, and corporate/foundation sponsorships (including a record $25 million gift in October 2023); retail sales through the on-site Artisans Gallery with online and phone ordering extending to international shipping; exhibition publications co-produced with Hali Publications; and no-fee event hosting for mission-aligned GW community events. Capital and endowment funding has been anchored by foundations such as the Avenir Foundation, The Coby Foundation, the Albert and Shirley Small Family Foundation, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees co-chaired by Bruce P. Baganz and Stuart S. Kassan and led by Director John Wetenhall, with a staff of 11-50 including Chief Conservator Maria Fusco and Chief Curator Sumru Belger Krody.

Name

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Legal name

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Website

https://museum.gwu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum is a university-affiliated, AAM-accredited museum in Washington, D.C., stewarding 21,000+ textiles, 4,000 Cotsen fragments, and 2,000 Washingtoniana items, serving public visitors, GW students and faculty, and scholars through exhibitions, conservation, research, and education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art and Cultural Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Textile & Fiber Arts Classes (Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Dyeing) (THAJAKAB), History Museums (THAJADAB)

Keywords

• Textile arts museum
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Textile conservation
• Educational museum programs
• Artisan retail shop

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership subscriptions at five tiers ($60–$1,000) provide free admission, exclusive programs, discounts, publications, and reciprocal museum benefits. Sustains exhibitions, educational programming, and professional training.
2. Donations and Annual Fund: Individual donations support operations, collections care, and programs. The museum cultivates major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. A record $25 million gift was received in 2023.
3. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, beneficiary designations, and real estate gifts. Donors may join the Heritage Society and George Hewitt Myers Heritage Society.
4. Retail Sales (Artisans Gallery): The on-site Artisans Gallery sells handmade textiles and artisan goods representing global traditions, with a commitment to fair trade, sustainability, and cultural authenticity. Museum members receive a 10% discount.
5. Event Space Rental: The museum makes spaces available to GW community groups for mission-related events (textiles, fashion, D.C. history, museum studies) at no rental fee, within regular museum hours. Venues accommodate seated lectures (70 max) or café-style seating (36 max).
6. Sponsorship: Individuals, corporations, and foundations can sponsor specific exhibitions, programs, or events, with recognition opportunities and benefits tailored to sponsor priorities.
7. Donation (Suggested Admission): Museum admission is free for all; a suggested donation of $8 is welcomed from non-members to support future exhibitions, collections, and educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum is a cultural institution that maintains three core collections — The Textile Museum Collection (21,000+ handmade textiles spanning five continents and five millennia), the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection (nearly 4,000 textile fragments), and the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection (nearly 2,000 maps, prints, and artifacts on Washington, D.C.). The museum activates these collections through rotating exhibitions, public educational programs, four research centers (including the Avenir Foundation Conservation and Collections Resource Center), an on-site Artisans Gallery retail shop, the peer-reviewed Textile Museum Journal, and a tiered membership program.

Product overview

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum is a physical museum institution offering multiple integrated collections and services. The core holdings consist of three major collections: The Textile Museum Collection (21,000+ textiles spanning five millennia), the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection (4,000 textile fragments), and the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection (2,000 Washington, D.C. historical materials). These collections are activated through rotating exhibitions, educational programs, four research centers (including a conservation facility), the Artisans Gallery retail shop, The Textile Museum Journal publication, and membership programs. The museum also provides public educational resources including the Textiles 101 interactive gallery and textile care guidelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Textile Museum Collection The museum's primary collection of more than 21,000 examples of handmade textile art representing five continents and five millennia, including rugs, garments, and furnishings from around the world. Open for public viewing and scholarly research.
• Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection A study collection of nearly 4,000 textile fragments from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Oceania and the Americas offering insights into human creativity from antiquity to the present, assembled by Lloyd Cotsen.
• Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection Collection of nearly 2,000 maps, prints, manuscripts, books, newspapers, broadsides, and photographs tracing the founding and evolution of Washington, D.C., donated by Albert H. Small in 2011.
• Exhibitions Rotating, thematic exhibitions inspired by the museum's collections, featuring global textiles and Washingtoniana. Always includes selections from The Textile Museum Collection on display in lower-level galleries. Open to the public free of charge with a suggested $8 donation.
• Educational Programs Public programs including artist talks, workshops, gallery talks, lectures, tours, family days, and virtual programs covering textile art, global cultures, and D.C. history.
• Research Centers Four research centers including the Arthur D. Jenkins Library (textiles and traditional dress resources), Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center, Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies, and Avenir Foundation Conservation and Collections Resource Center. Available to scholars, researchers, and GW students/faculty.
• Artisans Gallery Retail gallery featuring handmade textiles representing global traditions from the Americas, Asia, and Africa, supporting certified fair trade, sustainable, handmade, and culturally authentic work. Ships within the United States and to most international countries; members receive a 10% discount.
• The Textile Museum Journal Peer-reviewed journal published each fall, the leading publication for textile scholarship exchange in North America. Presents new scholarship on textiles from around the world.
• Museum Membership Program Annual membership with five tiers (Individual $60, Fellow $125, Supporter $250, Sponsor $500, Patron $1,000) providing free admission, members-only programs, reciprocal admission at 900+ museums, and access to The Textile Museum Journal.
• Textiles 101 Educational Resources Digital and in-gallery educational resources providing illustrated introduction to fibers, dyes, textile structures, and patterning techniques, including an interactive Textiles 101 gallery for hands-on learning.
• Textile Care and Display Guidelines Professional guidelines and videos on textile conservation covering handling, environmental control, cleaning, pest treatment, storage, and display methods.
• Event Venue Hosting Museum spaces available to GW community for events related to art, fashion, textiles, global cultures, D.C. history, and museum studies. No rental fee required for mission-related events during museum hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• The museum attracted 275 rugs and 60 textiles at its founding in 1925; today holds 21,000+ textile examples and nearly 2,000 Washingtoniana items.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Hali PublicationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-produced exhibition publications including Textile Treasures (centennial book) and Adorning the Horse: Equestrian Textiles for Power and Prestige. Available for purchase in the Artisans Gallery and online.
• DC Public Library (Special Collections)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnered with the museum for the Greetings from Washington exhibition, contributing over 100 postcard examples from the library's Special Collections alongside the museum's Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection.
• Antonia M. Chambers (Private Collector)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Lent rare 18th-century newspapers from her private collection for the Breaking News: Alexander Hamilton exhibition at the museum.
• Jerry A. McCoy (Private Collector)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Contributed vintage Washington, D.C. postcards from his private collection to the Greetings from Washington exhibition.
• David and Dianne Lipsey (Private Collectors)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Contributed vintage Washington, D.C. postcards from their private collection to the Greetings from Washington exhibition.
• Art on the MendminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization led by Alison Davis-Holland (Mending Mama) that partners with the museum for visible mending programs, empowering individuals through textile repair and creative community building.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum: A Smithsonian-affiliated museum in New York focused on decorative arts, design, and material culture including textiles. Closely comparable to GWT&M in mission (study and exhibit decorative/textile works), collection depth (thousands of textile and design objects), and academic orientation through the Smithsonian and Parsons affiliation.
• Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT): A New York-based museum dedicated to fashion and textile arts, with a focus on collecting and exhibiting historically and aesthetically significant garments and fabrics. Comparable to GWT&M as a fashion/textile specialty museum with academic affiliation (FIT/SUNY), rotating exhibitions, and an active educational programming slate.
• Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs de Lyon: France's premier textile museum, with an historic focus on Lyon silk and decorative textile arts. Comparable to GWT&M in dedicated scope (textiles as primary collection), conservation mandate, and exhibition-driven academic programming in textile arts.
• Powerhouse Museum (Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences): An applied arts and sciences museum in Sydney, Australia with significant textile, fashion, and decorative arts holdings. Comparable to GWT&M in category (decorative/applied arts with a textile focus), exhibition programming model, and conservation center orientation.
• Museo del Tessuto (Prato, Italy): An Italian textile museum dedicated to the textile heritage of Prato, with extensive historical textile collections and fashion/exhibition programming. Comparable to GWT&M in dedicated textile focus, conservation mandate, and study center engagement with academic and craft communities.

Broad incumbents

• Victoria and Albert Museum: One of the world's largest decorative arts and design museums, with deep textile holdings (V&A's Textile & Fashion collection) and corresponding conservation/research functions. Comparable to GWT&M at the category level (textile scholarship, conservation leadership), though it operates at much larger scale and across the full design spectrum.
• The Costume Institute (Metropolitan Museum of Art): Curates and exhibits fashion and textile art within one of the world's premier art museums. Comparable to GWT&M in object category (costume/textiles), conservation depth, and exhibition-driven audience engagement, though operating as a department within a much larger museum rather than a standalone institution.

Regional players

• Dumbarton Oaks: A Harvard-affiliated research institute and museum in Washington, DC with major Pre-Columbian and Byzantine art holdings (including notable Andean textile scholarship). Comparable to GWT&M as a DC-area university-affiliated cultural institution focused on material culture, conservation, and scholarly publications.
• Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens: A DC-area decorative arts museum with significant Russian imperial and preeminent Fabergé holdings, including textiles and historic fashion. Comparable to GWT&M in scope (decorative arts, special exhibitions, conservation) and in being a free/affordable DC-adjacent cultural institution; serves a partially overlapping DC audience.
• National Museum of Women in the Arts: A DC-based art museum focused on women artists across history. Comparable to GWT&M as a DC cultural institution, in audience (civic, scholarly, family visitors), and in operating a rotating exhibition calendar with membership/revenue programs; broader art focus rather than textiles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TextileMuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-textile-museum
• Instagraminstagram.com/gwmuseum
• TikToktiktok.com/@gwmuseum
• Xx.com/gwtextilemuseum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum