A Message From Our Founder

The past four months have been challenging for WomenArts and many of our allies in the United States. The president of our country has made it a priority to eliminate programs involving diversity, equity, and inclusion. It has been hard enough that funding for the arts has been steadily shrinking for decades, and now we are being told that our federal government is directly opposed to our core values. 

WomenArts has been working for the past thirty years to increase the visibility and opportunities for diverse women artists.  At this point we are a tiny volunteer-run organization, but our newsletters still go out to 10,000 women artists all over the world, and we refuse to give up our voice. 

In today’s blog WomenArts is celebrating two of our long-term colleagues who are hosting events this Saturday. One is Support Women Artists Now Kenya, which is presenting a day-long festival of grassroots artist-activists in Nairobi. The other is New York’s Women in the Arts and Media Coalition, which is presenting a new film based on the life of the trail-blazing pay equity advocate, Lilly Ledbetter.   

At WomenArts we believe that artists can draw strength from each other. When we share the stories of women artists who keep working in spite of all the obstacles, we hope you will see a reflection of your own potential. As an artist, you are a person who is accustomed to shaping the world around you.  You have the imagination and the skills to open people’s minds and touch their hearts, and that is what we desperately need these days. Your craft is needed. Your perspective is needed. Your wisdom is needed. 
 
Thank you for all that you do. Please keep the faith and keep doing your art!

Martha Richards, Founder, WomenArts  

Kenyan Women Artists – Celebrating for 17 Years!

WomenArts sends its congratulations to our colleagues in Nairobi, Kenya who are celebrating their 17th annual Support Women Artists Now Festival this Saturday, March 29.  Once again, it will be an amazing day-long multi-disciplinary celebration at the  Mathare Youth Sports Association headquarters. The day will feature music, dance, and spoken word, as well as displays of graffiti, sculpture, visual arts, beadwork, and other crafts.

Many popular Kenyan musicians are returning to the festival, such as Iddi Achieng, Judith Bwire, Lydiah Dola, and Jossy Sweetness. The day will kick off with 20 drummers in a “Batucada Feminista” – a powerful feminist drum circle that encourages women to make a lot of noise and take up space. There will also be performances by dance groups such as the 40-person Nairobi Folk Artists troupe. For the first time this year, there will be a children’s corner, where children will be encouraged to create. 

There will be two events especially designed to help women artists develop their survival skills both financially and personally.

There will be a panel discussion called “How We Managed to Get Here” which will feature Field Marshal Githuku, Terry Kaleche, Kasmall, and Chiku. These well-known activist artists and local television personalities will be sharing tips with younger artists about building their careers by staying strong and resilient. 

There will also be a wellness workshop led by musician, actor, and wellness coach, Valentine Zikki.  She will speak about ways to embody freedom through movement, breath work, and creativity.  

Women Arts Day in New York City

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition will continue its yearly Women Arts Day celebration with a free film showing in collaboration with SAG-AFTRA, Herflix, WomenArts, NYWIFT, the School of Visual Arts BFA Film Department, and the Coalition’s members.

Every year a film by and about women is selected. This year’s film will be Lilly, based on the life of the pioneering equal pay activist, Lilly Ledbetter, and directed by Rachel Feldman. The film will be shown on Saturday, March 29, at 2 p.m. at SVA Theater at 333 East 23rd Street, New York, NY. It will be followed by a discussion with the film’s star, Patricia Clarkson, and Rebecca Damon of SAG-AFTRA.

Lilly is a dramatic feature film starring Patricia Clarkson, John Benjamin Hickey and Thomas Sadoski, about an Alabama tire factory worker who fights for justice after 20 years of being mistreated and cheated by the company. An emotional journey of heartbreak and euphoria, Lilly is the story of an ordinary woman who stands up to powerful corporate and political forces, underscoring the impact a single, courageous person can have on society. Watch the trailer here.

Lilly won BEST of the FEST at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival and was awarded the Anti Defamation League’s STAND UP AWARD at the 2025 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The talk-back will feature Patricia Clarkson and Rebecca Damon. Patricia Clarkson is an Oscar nominated and Emmy-Award and Golden Globe winning actor, who is especially known for her powerful performances in Independent films and for her recurring television roles on Six Feet Under, House of Cards, Sharp Objects, and Gray. Rebecca Damon, is a workers’ rights champion who is currently serving as the Chief Labor Policy Officer and the New York Local Executive Director for SAG-AFTRA.

After the film and talkback, there will be food, drink, and networking. As always, the entire event will be free, sponsored by the Coalition and the participating organizations.