Women in Arts: From 1900 until today (FutureLearn)

Offered by Centre Pompidou,
Women in Arts: From 1900 until today (FutureLearn)

Discover the women creators who shaped modern and contemporary art and those who continue to make huge impacts today. Delve into art history through the extraordinary works of women artists.
On this seven-week course, you’ll journey through an alternative history of modern and contemporary art – one that is centred on the brilliant women creators in the movement.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Through a series of videos, quizzes, and activities, this interactive course will help you discover women in art, from 1900 to the present day.
From visual artists, sculptors, painters and photographers, to video and performance artists alike, these women artists of all different nationalities have shaped art throughout the 20th and 21st centuries and continue to do so.
Explore powerful artists such as Linda Nochlin
You’ll discover where women stand in art history and explore the interconnectedness between art and feminism.
With a spotlight on the pioneering Linda Nochlin, you’ll take a deep dive into women artists throughout history and explore how their works challenged and changed art as we know it today.
Understand how women shaped the Avant-Garde sequence
As you journey through art history, you’ll stop at pivotal moments to gain a full understanding of the role of women in art.
You’ll explore how women shaped the Avant-Garde from 1910-1930, the feminist turning points in the 1960s and 1970s, and gender trouble from 1980 to today.
Learn from the experts at Centre Pompidou
Throughout the course, you’ll be guided by the specialists at Centre Pompidou, home to the National Museum of Modern Art.
Not only will you explore art history and gain an understanding of where women in art stand today, but you’ll also have the opportunity to make art yourself in response to what you have learned on the course.

Syllabus

Week 1: Why "Women" ?
Week 2: Where Do Women Stand in Art History?
Week 3: Women Shaping the Avant-Garde: 1910-1930
Week 4: The Feminist Turning Point: 1960-1970
Week 5: Gender Trouble: 1980 to today
Week 6: What About Now?
Week 7: Who is the Artist Now?

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Develop your knowledge on art history
  • Describe a piece of art
  • Discuss with experts and other learners
  • Experiment your talent by doing Art work
  • Explore the huge female artiste production
  • Compare the place of women in art
  • Improve your art acquaintances
  • Identify a work of art or an artist

Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about the role of women in art. It will be of particular interest to those who enjoy studying art history and feminism.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Introduction to Imagemaking (Coursera) Coursera
California Institute of the Arts

Introduction to Imagemaking (Coursera)

This course for serious makers, and for students new to imagemaking. Imagemaking is a fluid and exciting area of graphic design that comes out of practice and process: experimenting fearlessly, showing and sharing ideas, and giving and receiving knowledgeable and constructive input.

Jun 8th 2026
4 Weeks
Visualizing Women's Work: Using Art Media for Social Justice (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Michigan

Visualizing Women's Work: Using Art Media for Social Justice (FutureLearn)

Explore the use of art media for social justice, and investigate how public art can be used to redress historic gender bias. Discover the historical erasure of women’s work through social justice art. Public art has often ignored the work and legacy of minorities and women, but recently there has been a welcome reappraisal of publicly displayed visual monuments and art media.

Jul 26th 2021
4 Weeks
The Power of Colour (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
KLC School of Design

The Power of Colour (FutureLearn)

Learn about the impact of colour in the world: from colour theory and colour in art and design, to the colours of 2016. We live in a vibrant and colourful world, but few of us truly appreciate the sheer power of the hues around us. This course will lift the lid on the world of colour: exploring the science behind the shades, the theories beyond the tints and the cultural impact of colour.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
A Voice of Their Own. Women's Spirituality in the Middle Ages. (Coursera) Coursera
University of Barcelona

A Voice of Their Own. Women's Spirituality in the Middle Ages. (Coursera)

Have you ever heard about medieval mysticism or medieval heresies? Have you ever wondered about the particular role women played in medieval spirituality? Do Hildegard of Bingen, Clare of Assisi, Marguerite Porete, the Cathar ladies or Isabel de Villena ring a bell? Have you ever felt like you wanted to know more about them? If your answer to any of these questions was yes, then this MOOC, A voice of their own. Women’s spirituality in the Middle ages is what you were looking for.

Jun 8th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Singing Popular Music (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music

Singing Popular Music (Coursera)

You've been studying the greats, working on improving your vocal skills, and building vocal technique. Now it's time to take the next step in your singing career to shine as a vocalist. Singing Popular Music provides you with the essential skills to define your own unique vocal style and sing healthfully. The course begins with devices to support and alter your sound including vowel quality, tone production, and breathing techniques.

Jun 8th 2026
4 Weeks
Introduction to Acting (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Luleå University of Technology

Introduction to Acting (FutureLearn)

Be ready for any audition and develop your overall creativity as you learn more about the art of acting. Learn to approach your acting in both a structured and creative way. If you’d like to become an actor, or are interested in the self-knowledge that comes with acting, this three-week course from Luleå University of Technology is for you.

Jan 17th 2022
3 Weeks
Effective Fundraising and Leadership in Arts and Culture (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Leeds

Effective Fundraising and Leadership in Arts and Culture (FutureLearn)

Improve your chances of raising funds for arts and culture by developing your leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Learn how to help arts and cultural organisations thrive. As the global funding landscape is changing rapidly, arts and cultural organisations are becoming increasingly concerned about what actions to take. On this course you will learn about the importance of developing organisational resilience through effective leadership and management, and how to diversify income streams by becoming more entrepreneurial.

Jan 3rd 2022
2 Weeks
Inside Opera: Why Does It Matter? (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
King's College London,The Royal Opera House,V&A

Inside Opera: Why Does It Matter? (FutureLearn)

Discover the hidden world of opera, find out how it works and debate whether it’s still relevant today. How does opera work? How has it changed over 400 years? And most importantly, is opera relevant today? Get the answers to these questions and more with this course taking you behind opera’s velvet curtain.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
Understanding Ramon Llull: Philosophy, Arts and Science through the Ars Combinatoria (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Universitat Pompeu Fabra,Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona - CCCB

Understanding Ramon Llull: Philosophy, Arts and Science through the Ars Combinatoria (FutureLearn)

Explore the fascinating work of philosopher Ramon Llull and its impact with this free online course. Ramon Llull, born in Majorca in the 13th Century, was an influential philosopher, writer and pioneering thinker. This controversial man was admired and scorned alike by some of the most enlightened minds in European culture. He was also one of the leading lights in the intellectual circles of the late 13th century, in which Arab, Jewish and Christian philosophers and scientists participated.

No sessions available
2 Weeks
Discovering Socially Engaged Art in Contemporary China (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
City University of Hong Kong

Discovering Socially Engaged Art in Contemporary China (FutureLearn)

Find out about inspiring projects created by Chinese artists to address important social issues, with this free online course. China has experienced dramatic changes over the past four decades - while the country is becoming more affluent, it’s also facing complex social issues. A number of Chinese artists have responded to these issues through powerful art.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Age of Cathedrals (Coursera) Coursera
Yale University

Age of Cathedrals (Coursera)

An introduction to some of the most astonishing architectural monuments the world has ever known—Gothic cathedrals. We shall study the art, literature, intellectual life, economics, and new social arrangements that arose in the shadow of the cathedrals and that were such an important part of the revival of cities in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The goal of the course is a better appreciation of the High Middle Ages, a world that is still recognizably our own.

Jun 8th 2026
5-12 Weeks