Causes to Celebrate: WomenArts

Because this month is National Women's History Month and because this week I wanted to feature causes that support art and artists, today I want share with you an organization that deserves mention: WomenArts.

Like some of the other causes I've mentioned this month, this is one I recently came across and now that I've found it, I can't believe I hadn't heard about it before.  WomenArts seeks to promote women artists of all kinds by offering resources and seeking grants to create projects that further advocate for women artists.  They also started an annual event known as SWAN Day -- Support Women Artists Now Day!  This event, typically celebrated the last Saturday of March (this year, it's March 27th;) is meant to showcase women artists and help to promote their art not only through the simple act of sharing it, but also by offering resources to women artists.  They extend SWAN Day celebrations throughout the months of March and April, as well so that local groups and organizations can host events of their own in support.

While the pandemic seems to have stifled some of the creative energy and ability to support art in many ways, WomenArts continues to trudge ever forward seeking to create a world where marginalized voices of women are heard, believed, and valued.  One of the projects they created with grant money was called "The Harmony Project" which studied how to better involve women artists in organizations as well as supporting women-led projects in opera, dance, and art.  Here's what they said about the project:

To create lasting social change, the women’s movement needs to shift firmly entrenched attitudes that are not entirely rational. Facts and figures are not enough to win the battles for equal pay, reproductive rights, more education, political power, or an end to violence. We need to reach people’s hearts as well as their minds.

Artists know how to do this, and there are many women artist-activists who are looking for ways to increase their impact.

What I love most about this is that it shows an understanding of how women-created art is viewed in the world--and how often it is undervalued.  But rather than deal with simple facts and figures, they want to use the arts to promote their cause--to show the value of women-led art projects and women-created spaces in the hopes that by doing so, along with all the facts and figures, change can begin to truly take root in the hearts and minds of people.

But they don't just promote the art of women creators, they also provide resources to help women promote not just themselves, but also the fundamental idea that women artists should be valued in their own right.  WomenArts shares places to get grants, organizations that are looking for women artists, provides a list of women artists for organizations to contact, and are an all-around resource for women and groups looking to promote women artists.

I also love that they have a blog that shines a spotlight on art projects about, for, and/or by women--shining a spotlight on them in particular since so few other media sources do.  All in all, WomenArts is pretty phenomenal in the scope of what they're trying to do, and I am looking forward to a day when they have the money and resources to do even more.

So today I hope you'll share with me the joy of not only Women's History Month, but also WomenArts as causes to celebrate!