Executive Women's Council Presents Women in Arts Festival

Executive Womens Council
April 14, 2008


April 18, 2008-April 19, 2008


Co-Presented by the
New Hazlett Theater, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
& Women and Girls Foundation

The New Hazlett Theater, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and the Women and Girls Foundation present a dynamic symposium, Art, Activism & Equity, as part of the "Women in the Arts" Festival on April 18 and 19, 2008. The festival, which features the Guerrilla Girls (art activists who have come to be known as "the Conscience of the Art World.") and Faythe Levine (Director and Author of "Handmade Nation: Documenting the rise of DIY Art, Craft & Design"), celebrates the accomplishments of women in the arts in Pittsburgh and connects the local arts community with national resources, trends, and philosophies.

The symposium will explore solutions regarding Southwest Pennsylvania's embarrassing record of women's compensation rates, build networks among Pittsburgh's emerging and established arts leaders while celebrating our region's unique strengths as a center for individual accomplishment. The program will also explore politics and feminism and will encourage local action, connection to resources and coalition building.

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008, 2:00 to 9:00 PM

Opening Presentation
Guerrilla Girls, featuring Frida Kahlo, on the history and work of the Guerrilla Girls in exposing sexism, racism and corruption in the art world, politics, film and pop culture.

Workshops

Crafting Your Life: Craftivism & Creating Community
This workshop will be spearheaded by Faythe Levine, Director and Author of "Handmade Nation: Documenting the rise of DIY Art, Craft & Design" (Book Release: November 2008, Princeton Architectural Press. Documentary Release: 2009), and Elizabeth Perry, BlogHER Innovator New Media Artist and creator of Woolgathering, conceived as an 18th-century Commonplace Book brought to the Web (http://www.elizabethperry.com/woolgathering).

Getting active and Initiating Change.
Guerrilla Girls


Panel Discussion
The quest for equality is still critical. Conversation will explore today's feminist movement in the arts, in politics, in business and across generations.
Moderator: Sara Radelet and Sylvia Rhor
Panelists:
Heather Arnet, Women and Girls Foundation
Vanessa German, Slam poet and visual artist
Chelsa Wagner, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Nancy Washington, Vice Chairperson, August Wilson Center for African American Culture

Reception and Performance
Selected works by Vanessa German

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2008, 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM

Opening Presentation
Melissa Swauger, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Carlow University, will present the Implicit Association Test, demonstrating that we all have subconscious discriminations.

Panel Discussion
Women Making Change! Today women in PA make 70 cents for every buck a man earns. This panel will talk about how we can work together to CHANGE this!
Moderator: Heather Arnet, Women and Girls Foundation
Panelists:
Selena Schmidt, Chief of Staff for City Council President Doug Shields
M.J. Tocci, Fulcrum Advisors
Audrey Murrell, University of Pittsburgh, Katz School of Business

Mini Catapult Workshop
Presenter: Heather Arnet, Women and Girls Foundation
Catapult is a new project of the Women & Girls Foundation that matches trained, volunteer coaches with women who want to become more skilled and confident in their use of negotiation to improve their professional situations.

Reception and Performances
Autumn Ayers
Nicole Reynolds
Soma Mestizo

To register for the symposium or for more information, please call the New Hazlett Theater at 412-320-4610, ext. 17 or email dsciranka@aol.com.

Karen Myres

Executive Womens Council