About Us

Women of Culture is a social enterprise that creates art-based experiences, trips, workshops and private group events that help professionals, travelers and private groups connect more meaningfully with the arts while also showcasing the power and necessity of all creative forms of expression.

Our intergenerational membership-based community helps women in the New York area learn about and experience the many facets of the city's rich cultural landscape while also connecting more deeply with one another.

Our private group experiences and travel offerings help corporate teams, tourists, families and friends connect to their innate creativity and experience the art world at its best in destinations including LA, Boston, Miami and Paris.

The Sisterhood of Discovery is a women’s circle for personal growth and social change. It is designed to reinforce our company values of curiosity, empathy and discovery and to help participants connect to themselves and one another on a deeper level, employing guided meditations, journaling and carefully curated conversations to foster increased solidarity and support among attendees.

Founder

Hi, I’m Alexandra Harper. I am an arts enthusiast, community builder and event planner who believes deeply in the power of art, community & connection! A few things about me:

  • I have a passion for people, personal development and creative expression in its many forms.

  • I love meeting new people, learning about what makes them tick and understanding their deepest & truest interests and desires.

  • I am interested in meaningful conversation that goes beyond small talk and believe it is one of the pathways to a more positive, connected and empathic world.

  • I believe the arts are the essence of our humanity and that personal expression is what sets humans apart as a species.

  • I believe that simply experiencing the arts in a meaningful and mindful way is an art in and of itself (for declared artists and non-artists alike).

  • My personal mission is to build a more connected, empathic and equal world by elevating the role of both women and the arts.

Team

Amelia Mason

Amelia Mason is an interdisciplinary performing artist and arts enthusiast originally from Burlington, Vermont. She recently graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University with a major in theatre and a double minor in sociology and dance.

Anastasia Meshalkina

Anastasia Meshalkina holds a degree in Cross-Cultural Communication from Russian University. An art enthusiast originally from Arkhangelsk, Russia, Anastasia relocated to New York in 2021. Her background and passion for art bring a unique perspective to her work, bridging cultural divides and enriching the local artistic community.

Amna Kakal

Amna Kakal is a Visual Artist and Designer originally from Karachi, Pakistan. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Pratt Institute, specializing in Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting and a minor in Interior Design. As an arts enthusiast, her work often finds itself to be informed by her own personal narratives and experiences.

Art-Full Ambassadors

Grace Sacro

Grace is a Deputy Bureau Chief at the Office of the New York State Attorney General and has been practicing law for over 20 years. She was born in the Philippines, and after migrating to the US, developed a deep love of art as a child. She has continued her passion for art as an avid photographer (while serving the community through public service).

Women of Culture has provided her the opportunity to stay connected with the world of art, and to express her creative side through its various art-based events. (Views expressed are her own.)

Joanna Matthews

By day is Joanna designing and directing work for brands like Apple, Electronic Arts, and Spectrum Internet. By night she can be found in a ceramics studio covered in mud with a gigantic smile on her face. She has lived in San Francisco CA, Austin TX, and Denver CO but considers New York her 'forever home.' Joanna believes that by engaging with art we can discover more about ourselves and the world around us and cultivate empathy and understanding.

Women of Culture has allowed her to learn more about the New York art world, explore new parts of the city, and build new friendships with like-minded people.

Collaborators & Guest Speakers

Bernadine Franco

is an Art historian, Educator, Writer, and Speaker who empowers the female perspective defined through works of art. Learn more at beyondthepaint.net and follow her on IG: @beyondthepaintwbernadine

Julie Zhu

is an award-winning marketing strategist based in NYC. She's a marketing advisor and guest speaker at Women of Culture. Follow her marketing insights at @marketingwithjulie

Janelle Diethelm

is the Founder of the Curious Art Historian, a free online resource where anyone can learn about art history. She holds a Master's in the History & Business of Art & Collecting from the University of Warwick and has worked at well-known art institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Christie's.

Merrily Kerr

is an art critic and writer based in New York. For over thirteen years Merrily has crafted personalized tours of cultural discovery in New York's galleries and museums. Merrily's daily social media and blog posts highlight the best art the city has to offer. Learn more about Merrily and follow her on IG: @newyorkarttours

Lauren Ebin

has been working in museums in NYC and overseas since 1998, both on the curatorial side and as a museum educator. As an archaeologist and art historian with an M.A. and Master of Philosophy degrees in Art History and Archaeology, Lauren has spent more than ten field seasons excavating all over the world. In her leisure time, Lauren is an accomplished swing dancer.

Hall W. Rockefeller

is an Art Historian and theFounder of Less than Half, an art criticism website covering the solo shows and goings-on of women artists in New York City.