If you are a female or non-binary musician, singer, rapper or emerging artist based in India, DivHersify is an exciting place or shall we say space. To collaborate, grow and empower individually or collectively. Launched by FEMWAV earlier this year, the program is a convergence of female and n.b. talent from various cities and with various skills and aspirations. Having completed two episodes in March, FEMWAV is amplifying DivHersify into concerts, safety workshops, busking and online panel discussions through 2022. Watch the first virtual convergence (6th March) . Episode two, 8th March was a concert and safety workshop, featuring five artists based in Pune,coming together at Daily All Day Pune. We spoke to FEMWAV recently about Divhersify and the upcoming plan of action. How female and non-binary talent in India is empowering herself, bit by bit, stepping beyond the token and objectified presence, into equal access, creating better music scenes, which are actually diverse and sustainable.
Within DivHersify is India's first proper gig safety charter, cheekily titled as G.A.N.G (Girls and Gigs). The charter drafted by Ananya Roy, about to be launched by FEMWAV was vetted by a bunch of female artists, professionals and lawyers. 360-degrees in approach, covering venues, artists and audience to address harassment, stalking and sexual violence that women face at clubs, concerts and festivals. G.A.N.G is public access and with a simple sign-up one can begin the intervention, towards making such public spaces safe and equal for women. Within G.A.N.G are various types of interventions, security measures, rights, what-to-do type action and an introduction to the endemic size of the problem.
It's clearly a 'no-brainer' that organizers, venue owners, managers and artists need to address this ugly issue. Pledge and enact policies which guarantee safer spaces and better experiences. Of hundreds of clubs, discotheques, open-air concerts and music festivals across India, there needs change. Why they don't act is not even a question worth discussion. This type of progressive intervention, for the least begins to create horizontal change, impact women in various ways, reclaiming their space, collectively as well individually. Then it hardly matters, if we are part of the audience or the artist or the organizer. Check out the G.A.N.G page in formation here.
About the DivHersify online conferences, the objective is simple and egalitarian. Create "open spaces" for women and the non-binary from diverse backgrounds. Facilitate the exchange of ideas, opinions and knowledge. The first virtual meet featured 6 panelists and 32 participants, located allover India. Lasting more than 2 hours, during which issues of inequality, safety and opportunity were put up for discussion. New pathways for artists to grow professionally and the pros and cons of music revenue models. Part of the interaction involved female artists speaking about their personal experiences, in ways that we usually don't see or hear on social media or press. Given that the number of women and non binary participating should be way more, the motivation is strong, based on a small resilient group that inspires many others on the fringe, to come forward and amplify this scene.
"Placing the novice and the pro on the same platform, creates direct connections, opens up space for conflicting opinions and new unforeseen pathways. Thus creating common points of interest and synergy between the participants. Regardless of talent and experience, everyone participating should be able to express their views, challenges and fears..." states Ananya Roy, heading the DivHersify events. The next virtual meet is up for July this year. To participate sign up here.
0 -