Empowering creative women
A gender gap challenge
A multifaceted gender gap persists in the culture sector. In Europe, only one in five films is produced by a woman. Women are less connected, possess lower digital literacy skills and have less access to training programs. Women are less likely to be hired by technology companies and are underrepresented in conferences or creative industry marketplaces.
The UNESCO-Sabrina Ho initiative, “You Are Next: Empowering Creative Women” was designed to face these challenges. It is a new initiative that addresses the different needs, aspirations, capacities and contributions of young women working in the digital creative industries in developing countries. It supports projects that strengthen the technical and entrepreneurial skills of young women under the age of 40, as well as national policy initiatives and strategies that address gender equality in the cultural and creative sectors.
Febuary 2018-November 2020
Sabrina Ho
Ms Sabrina Ho is UNESCO’s youngest strategic partner. At only 27 years old, Ms. Ho signed a strategic partnership worth USD 1.5 million, within the framework of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005).
Following completion of her MBA, Sabrina Ho focused her work on contemporary art in Asia. Since 2016, she has been leading an annual art fair for young artists across the region, presenting a unique collection of traditional and contemporary works.
She also launched the "Y Class" Creative Design Courses and the "Y Show", a networking platform for design students. During this event, young students have the opportunity to present their new ideas, to exchange with international designers and to explore new markets.
Knowing the importance of investing in the creative industries and the economic potential of digital art, especially in developing countries, Sabrina Ho decided to expand her scope of action by contributing to the economic and social growth of young women of her generation, through her partnership with UNESCO.
#BeYourVoice (Mexico)
Febuary 2019 – Febuary 2020
Context/Overview
Although the cultural and creative industries represent nearly 8% of Mexico’s GDP, female participation in the industry remains low.
#BeYourVoice is an inter-disciplinary project developed by Artes Escenicas Teatro de Aire AC, a performing arts company working in education and culture. #BeYourVoice is a unique platform for virtual reality technologies, empowering young Mexican women to use virtual digital technologies.
Results
The project provided 100 young Mexican women with artistic, digital and entrepreneurship skills, using a new virtual reality e-learning tool. The young women, from five different regions, also benefited from a mentorship program with key female artists.
DigitELLES (Senegal)
Febuary 2019 – Febuary 2020
Context/Overview
In Senegal, despite their important presence in the music industry, women often lack education and information. DigitELLES is a digital training programme, developed by Africulturban, for young female musicians. Africulturban launched an awareness raising campaign to combat stereotypes and empower women to fight against discrimination in the sector.
Results
The project increased professional opportunities for 20 young women working in the music industry by strengthening their technical skills, and provided opportunities for them to establish micro-enterprises to contribute to their financial independence.
WAVE - Women Audio Visual Education (Palestine)
Febuary 2019 – November 2020
Context/Overview
In Palestine, 66% of qualified women are unemployed. To address this issue, WAVE, a technology-based training programme developed by Ayyam Al Masrah (Theatre Day Productions), combined digital animation, drama and storytelling to develop entrepreneurial, creative and technical skills in young Palestinian women.
In parallel, Theatre Day Productions also launched an advocacy campaign on culture, freedom of expression and women’s rights.
Results
Young women learned to create short videos with their smartphones, worked with communities and turned improvisation, character analysis and development into new digital content. Theatre Day Productions also presented a five-year strategic plan for the introduction of digital audiovisual curriculum in a Palestinian university or public institution will be formulated.
Digital Arts Academy (Tajikistan)
Febuary 2019 – November 2020
Context/Overview
Despite progress in recent years, opportunities for education and professional development in Tajikistan remain limited. Through the Bactria Cultural Center, Digital Arts Academy offered courses in coding, digital creation and entrepreneurship to 24 young female cultural entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
Results
The Bactria Cultural Centre also launched a creative digital campaign designed by the graduates themselves, to help raise awareness of the role and creative potential of women in the industry.
Mentees from Tajikistan and Afghanistan also came together for a summer school programme to strengthen their collaboration and to foster networking.
