We’re fortunate to enjoy a culturally rich community here in Omaha, deeply influenced by the generosity of individuals who have made substantial contributions to the arts. Six particularly remarkable Omaha women not only advocated for creative expression, but also established enduring legacies of their own. Their efforts ensure that our city remains a space for creativity and a flourishing community. From accessible galleries to historic theaters, the following institutions owe their existence to the vision and philanthropy of these six women.
Sarah Joslyn–Joslyn Art Museum
2200 Dodge St., Omaha, NE | joslyn.org
Sarah Joslyn was one of Omaha’s wealthiest women—she and her husband, George, were Omaha’s first millionaires and philanthropists. Many local institutions benefited from their generosity, and after George died, Sarah honored him in 1931 with a museum and concert hall designed to embrace the arts. With a grand expansion and long-awaited public reopening this September, The Joslyn carries out Sarah’s vision of bringing people together to explore art across time and cultures.
Brigitte McQueen–The Union for Contemporary Art
2423 N 24th St., Omaha, NE | u-ca.org
When Brigitte McQueen moved to Omaha in 2006, she recognized a great potential for arts programming in North Omaha, where years of disinvestment and stigma separated the region from the rest of the city. In 2011, she left her job at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and founded The Union for Contemporary Art, designed primarily to support local artists and drive civic engagement. Today, The Union’s programs use the arts to inspire positive social change in the region and beyond.
Rose Blumkin–The Rose Theater
2001 Farnam St., Omaha, NE| rosetheater.org
A familiar name to many, Rose Blumkin was a philanthropist and businesswoman who founded Nebraska Furniture Mart in 1937. With a generous donation, Blumkin saved the old Astro Theater from demolition in the 1980s because it held sentimental value—her daughter had once won a talent show there. Renamed The Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center in her honor, The Rose is dedicated to making theater and arts education accessible to all children and families.
Rachel Jacobson–Film Streams
Dundee Theater|4952 Dodge St.
Ruth Sokolof Theater| lorne1340 Mike Fahey St. | filmstreams.org
Omaha native Rachel Jacobson has always had a passion for film appreciation. Founded in 2005, Film Streams is a nonprofit dedicated to “enhancing the cultural environment of the Omaha-Council Bluffs area through the presentation and discussion of film as an art form.” After their success downtown, Jacobson reopened the historic Dundee Theatre as a second Film Streams location in 2017. Her enthusiasm encourages those who visit Film Streams to engage with cinema on a much deeper level than simply purchasing a ticket.
Ree Kaneko–Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts & KANEKO
Bemis: 724 S 12th St. | KANEKO: 1111 Jones St.
bemiscenter.org/thekaneko.org
Ree Kaneko is an arts administrator, curator, and artist. She explored the art centers of New York and California before returning to Omaha’s empty warehouses in 1971, where she was a studio artist for 11 years. In 1981, she founded the Bemis Center alongside her sculptor husband Jun Kaneko, artist Tony Hepburn, and curator Lorne Falk. In 2001, she and Jun dedicated their efforts to founding a new creative hub—KANEKO. Today, KANEKO’s mission is to encourage and explore creativity through exhibitions, performance, lectures, and education.
Magdalena Garcia–El Museo Latino
4701 S 25th St. | elmuseolatino.org
Magdalena Garcia moved to Omaha from Mexico City when she was 9 years old. Garcia pursued an art history degree and volunteered at the Joslyn Art Museum in the early ‘90s, all while observing Omaha’s growing Latino demographic. Founded by Garcia in 1992, El Museo Latino became the first Latino-Hispanic art, culture, and history museum in the region—one of just four in the United States—hosting exhibitions and services for the community. Today, it remains one of just 17 Latino museums in the country.
This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
