Women in the Arts - Creating the Spaces We Need: Creativity + Courage + Conviction = There's No Stopping Us Now!

Workshop Presentation
Akulah Agbami,  Cleo Lake  

In the UK, we have begun our work on MOWITA, the Museum of Women in the Arts. Our initial studies reveal what a staggeringly low proportion of work has been and is exhibited pertaining to women in the arts. Our workshop looks at ways in which women's creativity can infuse the museum sector in many different ways. It is no good waiting to 'be represented' - we have to represent ourselves and carve out new spaces in which our work and voices resonate. Activities for participants include: 1. Group shares analysis of the most effective exhibition involving women's work attendees have experienced; 2. A quiz on statistics regarding proportion of women and non-European women's work exhibited in the past 2 years 3. Group exercise on creating more inclusive spaces -and the characteristics of such spaces; 4. Our dream museum - group exercise on an ideal series of four exhibitions to run concurrently in a major museum - what does this programme look like and why have those choices been made 5. Review of obstacles to creating the spaces we need and how might we soar over those obstacles.