Women’s Empowerment – Live the change, change lives

Women’s Empowerment

Live the Change, Change Lives!

Author: Mansoureh Rahnama

Women’s Empowerment—Live the change, change lives (WE—LCCL) is an international campaign to empower women through creative works. In particular, the campaign advocates for new creative approaches to addressing women’s empowerment. They invite international designers, artists, writers, critics, historians, and filmmakers who want to work for gender equality to participate in our project, a campaign that will include a design & art award, a book publication, a short film competition, and a matchmaking workshop.

This is a call and campaign for the empowerment of women in Iran. It invites artists, designers, illustrators, and anyone who will join Thinkup Editions on their journey and create a sign to empower women in Iran with their contributions. In particular, they would like to address the current circumstances of women in Iran, young and old, to collaborate with women and create a sign of solidarity. The brutal attacks on women in Iran have caused massive protests within the country and around the world. In addition to the economic and social issues that put women in poverty and thus in unequal economic and social conditions, many women (including minors) have been arrested, harassed, raped, and even killed.

The number of artists and especially female artists in Iran has increased in recent years, and their work challenges traditional gender roles and societal and political expectations. They use various mediums to address social, cultural, and political issues, contributing to a broader dialogue on gender, identity, and human rights. Despite challenges such as censorship and limited exhibition and career development opportunities, the increasing visibility of female artists in Iran is a positive sign of progress towards gender equality and greater freedom of expression.

The Women’s Empowerment campaign promotes the women’s movement through art and culture professionals from the international community and supports it through public relations in European countries, but also in countries outside Europe. Thus, the serious situation in Iran is presented as a situation confronting the global women’s community and the women’s movement in Iran is supported with the power of art; through art, this untenable situation can be presented critically.

A series of exhibitions in Germany, the Netherlands, and other European countries with works of art is being planned. The location and exhibition dates will follow.

1st THINKUP Editions Art & Design Awards
The Women’s Empowerment art competition will award a prize to young and established artists in 2023. The competition is open to all artists, designers, illustrators, and groups from anywhere in the world. Artists are invited to participate in the campaign with their artworks. The artists with physical artwork or installation should send us an image of the artwork first via email.

1st Innovative short film Awards
As part of the project, they invite filmmakers from around the world to participate in our campaign by sending their innovative short film or documentary about the women’s movement in general and / or in relation to the current situation in Iran. The competition is open to all film crews, young filmmakers, video groups, and film groups from anywhere in the world. For more information, please see the Short Film rules.

Book Publishing: word selection for the women’s movementShort fiction stories or poetic works on women’s empowerment are wanted for the book project. They ask that you propose a story / route for the women to continue to empower themselves that you indicate in your text. You are free to accompany the women with your power of words. The only condition is that you feel yourself in the role of women and then write about it. We want to find a new roadmap for hope—for the women who, out of anger and despair, cut their hair and fearlessly take to the streets.

In 2023, The Women’s Empowerment—Live the change, change lives art competition will award a prize to young and established writers. The competition is open to all writers, critics and reviewers from anywhere in the world.

Women’s Empowerment

1st THINKUP Editions Art & Design Awards:
Submission deadline: March 31st, 2023
Submit via email for design / illustration / motion design
Submit via email for artworks
Exhibition date: June to August, 2023

1st Innovative short film Awards
Open call: January 30th, 2023
Public screening: August 15th - 31st, 2023 or later
Submit via email
The screening copy of an accepted film must be sent no later than June 30th, 2023 here or to the following physical address: THINKUP Editions, Athener Weg 1, D-44269 Dortmund, Germany

Book Publishing: word selection for the women’s movement
Deadline for proposal: May 1st, 2023
Text length:  1–3 pages
Write an email if you have any questions

More information and updates can be found on the websiteFacebook, or Instagram.

Women’s Empowerment – Live the change, change lives

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