Supporting Female Artists Year Round

Every March, organizations post on social media about female composers, female artists, female conductors, etc. March is Women’s History Month, so those posts are definitely timely and appropriate.  But, we should be highlighting and celebrating and supporting female artists year round, not just in one month. (Yes, this same argument goes for highlighting and celebrating and performing African American artists not just in February and Hispanic artists not just in October, and so on and so on).

Devra Thomas at The Clyde Fitch Report published a February, 2016 article called “5o Ways to Support Female Artists” which offers advice on how to show the female artists in your life some love.  Tips vary across five categories and include things like:

• Go to their performances/exhibits/recitals
• Give them uninterrupted time and space (mental and physical) to make art
• Create a kid positive culture in your organization
• Advocate for gender parity (#preach)
• Give honest feedback on the art only if asked; otherwise, simply bolster the accomplishment of putting the art out for the world to see

Thomas writes this list for people to support female artists, but really, insert any adjective before “artist” and it’s equally as applicable.  Sub in “Administrator” after artists and the list works just as well; especially the tip, “Buy them a massage.”