Meryl Streep Makes Major Donation to National Women's History Museum

Musée d'Orsay Receives Impressive Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Fan Paintings

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:48pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Acclaimed actress Meryl Streep has made a significant seven-figure donation to the National Women's History Museum in Washington, D.C. to fund storytelling projects and digital programming. Meanwhile, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris has received a remarkable collection of 17 Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings done on fans, which will be displayed for three months starting on the museum's 40th anniversary.

Why it matters

Streep's donation reflects her commitment to amplifying women's voices and ensuring their history is remembered. The Musée d'Orsay's new fan painting collection showcases a unique artistic medium that was embraced by renowned Impressionist and post-Impressionist painters, providing a fresh perspective on this period of art history.

The details

Streep's donation to the National Women's History Museum will fund projects aimed at storytelling and digital programming. The museum helped establish the forthcoming Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, though its physical location is still undecided. The Musée d'Orsay's new collection includes 17 fan paintings by artists such as Pissarro, Gauguin, Degas, and Toulouse-Lautrec, gifted by a Hong Kong-based collector who was struck by the 'remarkable beauty' of paintings made on fans throughout art history.

  • Streep's donation was announced in March 2026.
  • The Musée d'Orsay will display the fan painting collection for three months starting on March 24, 2026, in celebration of the museum's 40th anniversary.

The players

Meryl Streep

An acclaimed American actress who has made a significant seven-figure donation to the National Women's History Museum.

National Women's History Museum

A digital-first museum in Washington, D.C. that helps amplify women's voices and ensure their history is remembered.

Musée d'Orsay

A renowned art museum in Paris that has received a remarkable collection of 17 Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings done on fans.

Ms. Kan

A Hong Kong-based collector who donated the collection of fan paintings to the Musée d'Orsay, struck by the 'remarkable beauty' of this artistic medium.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“History is shaped not only by those who make it, but by those who ensure it is remembered.”

— Meryl Streep

“I like the fact that the Impressionists were influenced by Asia.”

— Ms. Kan, Collector

The takeaway

Streep's donation to the National Women's History Museum and the Musée d'Orsay's acquisition of the unique fan painting collection both demonstrate a commitment to preserving and celebrating underrepresented narratives in art and history.