FJORDS - Transformational Leadership Program for women* in arts and culture in Aarhus

FJORDS is a holistic education and empowerment program created by women for women working in arts and culture

The project is rooted in the acknowledgment that culture and art have been central in nearly every social movement in history and have a huge impact on shaping social awareness and driving change. Therefore it is crucial that the leaders in this sector are sensitive and aware of global and local struggles and interdependencies, can imagine more equitable and inclusive ways of being and creating relationships, and can lead themselves and their communities with vision, courage, and care.

The goal of the program is to:

• bring together diverse women working in arts and culture in Aarhus

• create a space for learning and exchange and building closer relationships among participants.

• offer resources and exchange for exploring participants' leadership and potential for future collaborations.

FJORDS aims to:

• to empower and strengthen the participation and visibility of women* working in arts and culture;

• to explore and practice different elements of transformative cultural leadership;

• to re-imagine and strengthen the role of arts and cultural leaders in social change and ensure inclusive and participatory practices in the cultural sector;

• to acquire practical skills and tools for self and community care, cultural and arts management, and doing cultural/artistic work that acknowledges and addresses the social and ecological challenges of our times, which are rooted in inequity and injustice on multiple levels;

• contribute to cross-institutional partnerships to build more resilient cultural organisations that drive positive social change towards a more just, equitable, and inclusive cultural sector

First edition of FJORDS will take place from June - August, 2021 and consist of 4 workshop days from June 7 - 10, a mentoring and practice phase throughout July and a closing session in August, 2021. It will invite 16 women from Aarhus, connected with communities of Institut for (X), Frontløberne, UKH, and other, and is supported by Aarhus Kommune.

The four core areas and learning modules are: