Action through art: how arts-based initiatives promote gender equality

Art can be a powerful force for change, and this new evidence brief focuses on the impact of how institutional actors, such as non-governmental organisations and intergovernmental institutions, use art in their programming to advance gender equality.

This brief uncovers the evidence on the success of arts-based initiatives to complement another ALIGN Report: The power of feminist artivism to change gender norms. The analysis is based on a database that identified 115 arts-based gender equality initiatives implemented between 2013 and 2023 in over 55 countries.

Key messages

• Art is used to promote gender norm change by questioning patriarchal gender norms or fostering gender-equitable alternatives. Art can also help raise awareness about an issue, amplify marginalised voices, nurture gender-equality-related skills, and support people’s well-being.
• Arts-based initiatives focus on a range of topics such as gender-based violence (GBV), women’s empowerment, masculinity, sexual and reproductive health rights, child marriage and LGBTQI+ rights. 52 out of 115 of the initiatives focus on addressing GBV.
• Theatre is the most prevalent art form in the database. However, projects cover all art forms, from film, to dance, to arts and crafts. Organisations tend to see arts-based approaches as useful for working with children and youth, and to promote change at multiple levels.
• Of the 115 initiatives documented, only 32 have been evaluated in some form. While assessment is limited, the evidence indicates an overall positive picture of how art can successfully advance gender norm change, and gender equality more broadly.