NEW YORK.- On April 7 Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Deputy Director Olga Viso will be honored for her outstanding achievements and distinguished service to the arts community at this year’s ArtTable Gala Award Dinner in New York City. Ms. Viso has been with the Hirshhorn for nearly ten years and has served as deputy director since 2003. She is instrumental in the acquisition of essential contemporary works for the collection, has organized innovative exhibitions including the Museum’s "Directions" showcase for emerging artists and has written critically acclaimed publications. Her most recent exhibition is "Ana Mendieta: Earth Body, Sculpture and Performance 1972–1985," a much celebrated retrospective that is currently touring in the U.S.

As a highly accomplished leader in the art world, it is appropriate that Ms. Viso be recognized and honored by an organization like ArtTable. Founded in 1980, ArtTable is a membership organization for "professional women in leadership positions in the visual arts." Since its inception it has been dedicated to the purpose of increasing the "effectiveness and visibility of women in the visual arts" and advancing "greater knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the visual arts."

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, ArtTable will recognize the past twelve recipients of its Distinguished Service to the Visual Arts Award, and will also look to the future to honor twelve new women recipients. Past awards were given to many outstanding professional women such as Emily Rauh Pulitzer, President of the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts and Agnes Gund, President, Emerita, of the Museum of Modern Art.