{"id":16441,"date":"2024-04-30T06:54:09","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T06:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.festivalsfromindia.com\/?p=16441"},"modified":"2024-04-30T10:47:31","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T10:47:31","slug":"more-power-to-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.festivalsfromindia.com\/blog\/more-power-to-women\/","title":{"rendered":"More Power To Women","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ruth Bader Ginsburg\u2019s directive to \u2018fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that leads others to join you\u2019 serves as a crucial guiding principle, particularly for leaders in the arts who possess the authority to influence policy for urban regeneration. As an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in the US, Ginsburg was a trailblazer for human rights, advocating for marginalised communities and women across the world. During my time in India, I had the privilege of meeting numerous exemplary women in positions of power within the cultural sphere, diligently addressing inequalities with similar adept leadership and an inclusive approach to garner support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recently published British Council research delves into India\u2019s culture and creative industries and spotlights women in the arts<\/strong><\/a>. The study highlights their entrepreneurial endeavours and examines the gender dynamics within the sector. While accentuating success stories, it also deliberates on potential solutions to the many challenges encountered by women. India\u2019s G20 presidency in 2023 underscored the intrinsic connection between gender equality, cultural heritage, livelihoods, and sustainability, all directed towards fostering inclusive growth in alignment with UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To credit just a few\u00a0women leaders for their long-standing commitment to shaping the future: Vidyun Singh, Programme Director of India Habitat Centre<\/strong><\/a>, in her series of festivals in Delhi; Rithu Sethi, Director of the National Crafts Revival Trust, working to empower women through arts enterprise; Smriti Rajgarhia, Director of Serendipity Arts Festival<\/strong><\/a>, raising the voice of marginalised artists in Goa each year; and Lily Pandeya, Joint Secretary at the Central Ministry of Culture, Government of India, working to upskill through policy for women in digital and heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Serendipity Arts Festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most recently in London, at a joint conference hosted by the British Council and the Department for Business and Trade, Swati Janu, an architect at the Social Design Collaborative in Delhi, spoke about the impact of safe spaces for women and LGBTQI+ individuals in urban design and regeneration of cities. All are examples of women leading inclusive culture policy in urban regeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is for good reason when over 58% of the 200 million working in the crafts sector alone in India are women \u2013 they are the entrepreneurs, designers, makers, farmers, and homemakers.\u00a0Of course, addressing social inclusion and urban regeneration is a challenge for all policymakers, women and men alike, but the Taking Place<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>conference powerfully demonstrated when women experts are in positions of power \u2013 policy and regeneration is demonstrably more equal and often exponentially more inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justine Simons OBE, the Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries in London, spoke of structured, systematic and sustainable approaches to inclusive urban regeneration. In the vicinity of the 2012 Olympics Park, significant investment in multicultural Newham, in east London, is currently underway. This investment has led to the expansion of institutions such as the V&A, University of the Arts, BBC Music, and Sadler\u2019s Wells Theatre, all of which are attracting jobs, students, and new cultural tourists to the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In London, one in five jobs are in the Creative Economy, generating \u00a350 billion annually through festivals and visitor attractions in the experience economy. Notable examples include the British Museum, National Theatre, BFI Flare Festival, Birds Eye View Film Festival, London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) and JLF at the British Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justine Simons, along with other women arts and policy leaders from Hong Kong, the US, Africa and Scotland spoke at Taking Place about the regeneration of town and city-centres globally, including the World Cities Culture Forum<\/strong><\/a> which the Mayoralty in Bengaluru joined in 2023. Here are five key insights from the Taking Place conference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n