Resilience in the face of crises through the lens of women artists

On the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023, UNESCO organized an online panel on “Resilience in the face of crises through the lens of women artists”. The discussion brought together high-profile women artists and culture professionals representing diverse disciplines from around the world. The panel examined their role in inspiring resilience during times of crisis, as well as the need to better protect the right to creation and livelihoods of artists in emergency situations.

According to the UNESCO 2022 Global Report “Re|shaping policies for creativity: addressing culture as a global public good”, the culture and entertainment sector have one of the highest employment rates for women at 48.1%. Gender parity in the cultural and creative industries, however, does not come hand in hand with gender equality, as women are still confronted with challenges. They are at a higher risk of experiencing labour precarity, gender-based harassment, or stereotypes and prejudices impeding the full enjoyment of artistic career. Women artists and culture professionals can also be more negatively impacted by crises: it is believed that the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, has taken a disproportionate toll on women artists and culture professionals. Yet, recovery plans often failed to address their specific needs.

On the bright side, works of art and creativity can transform societies. Cultural expressions often question gender stereotypes and restrictive gender-based expectations. The power of women artists is all the more essential during crises, as they draw attention to the issues faced by women and girls while spreading the messages of hope and resilience. Within this context, UNESCO convened a panel of highly celebrated women artists whose work reveals and challenges existing inequalities – and whose very existence as artists challenge traditional or societal expectations. The panelists discussed 1) women artists’ key role in building resilience during crises, and 2) the need to better protect their right to create and live off their artistic work in emergency situations.

The panel was opened by Mr Toussaint Tiendrebeogo, Secretary of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and Ms Alexandra Xanthaki, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights.

Panelists included

• Ms Deeyah Khan, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Artistic Freedom and Creativity
• Ms Golnar Shahyar, Iranian-Canadian vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist
• Ms Sahar Dehghan, Iranian dancer and choreographer
• Ms Shirley Campbell Barr, Costa Rican poet
• Ms Fatoumata Diabaté, Malian photographer and president of the Association des femmes photographes du Mali

Short musical performance by

• Ms Niaz Navab, an Iranian singer

The event was hosted in partnership with the 360 Paris Music Factory and livestreamed on UNESCO’s social media platforms in English, French and Spanish  from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm (Paris time).

UNESCO promotes a human-centred development of the creative industries. Within this effort, UNESCO-Aschberg programme for artists and culturel professionals serves a key mechanism for the promotion of the rights of artists and artistic freedom. A specific focus is put on gender equality, one of UNESCO’s two Global Priorities. These UNESCO projects respond to the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions as well as the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist.