Calling all women activist artists!
Social media can be a double-edged sword—offering visibility while subjecting us to censorship and control. How do we navigate these challenges? How do we protect our art and voices in an era where platforms often silence activism?
In this forum, we’ll tackle these questions head-on. Join us to:
- Share your experiences and insights on social media censorship.
- Explore the emotional and practical consequences of having your art, accounts, or content removed.
- Discuss ethical dilemmas and strategies for using platforms that may violate human rights or target activists.
Featuring expert insights from Emma Shapiro, Editor-At-Large at Don’t Delete Art, this session will delve into the impact of censorship on activist art and explore creative solutions and alternatives to fight back.
Together, let’s uncover strategies to protect our work, amplify our voices, and reclaim the digital space for activism.
Key topics:
- What are META’s latest content policies, and in what ways might they impact activists and artists?
- What strategies can activists and artists use to maintain visibility without heavily relying on META’s platforms?
- How much time should activists and artists dedicate to social media for meaningful visibility?
- To what extent do activists and artists truly need social media platforms, and what alternatives exist?
- What are your experiences with censorship of activist content, and what lessons have emerged from these challenges?
- What strategies can activists and artists use to build resilience and maintain visibility in the face of censorship and platform limitations?
- What does the future hold for activist art in digital spaces, and how can artists adapt to emerging challenges or opportunities?
This forum is more than a discussion—it’s a collective effort to build resilience and find innovative ways to amplify our voices and art. Let’s reclaim the narrative and ensure our activism continues to inspire and impact.
Panelists/ participants:
Maria Gonzalez, Founder and Creative director of Sheroes Collective
Emma Shapiro, Editor-At-Large DDA
Be part of the movement. Share. Learn. Fight back.
With the advent of Instagram and online tools, artists had access to the kind of means and reach they’d only dreamed of; an art world finally open to all. In reality, though, this access was always obstructed by ingrained sexism and ignorance. Art that is restricted by bias will go unseen by a public that deserves access to it, and artists who aren’t allowed access to vital tools for visibility today lose the ability to reach an audience. Through advocating for the visibility of artists who are suppressed, we can conquer stigma and push our visual narrative beyond the stagnancy we currently risk effecting.
Emma Shapiro, Artist and Editor-At-Large of Don’t Delete Art
“This is not just about losing an account; it’s about losing a platform that gave voice to those fighting daily against the injustices faced by women and girls. By silencing us, Instagram has done more than take down an account; it has sent a harmful message—that organisations with limited resources are less deserving of support, and worse still, that the lives and stories of women and girls impacted by violence are not a priority.
But let me be clear: we will not be silenced. Sheroes will continue—stronger than ever. We are determined to keep amplifying these stories, with or without the backing of social media giants.”
Maria González- Sheroes Collective on having _sheroes IG account deleted
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The artwork in the banner is by Nadine Robbins, courtesy of Don’t Delete Art.
To ensure accessibility, this talk is made available through a donation-based model. Your contributions help sustain this platform and make these tools accessible to a wider audience.
*we stand for diversity and therefore includes women, trans, and gender non-conforming individuals, without them our mission wouldn’t be complete.