Photo: Kim Vasquez, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts & Art Exhibit.

by Kristen Ku

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Mar. 20, 2023

On Thursday of last week, the Institute of Creative Arts celebrated the work of female artists by re-launching the Women in Art event.

This year’s Women in Art is the second revival since the first launch was held in 2009. The event was first revived in 2022, following the pandemic, which had brought a halt to most public gatherings.

This year, the launch was held at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts, and in attendance, as well as being speakers at the event, were the Minister of Education, Hon. Francis Fonseca; Director of the Institute of Creative Arts, Kim Vasquez; and Exhibit Curator, Gilvano Swasey.

Participants in this year’s event included 35 women of different ages, including young girls from high school.

“The works in this exhibit represent a diverse range of styles, media, and subjects, but they all have one thing in common: they are the result of hard work, passion, and dedication,” said Vasquez.

Minister Fonseca also shared the stage, expressing how inspiring the role of women in art has become.

“Change has been slow and frustrating in coming, and we still have a long-ways to go; but over the past few decades, it has been inspiring and uplifting to see women take center stage in the world of art. And I had the great honor and privilege of working with strong, creative women at every level of leadership,” said Fonseca.

This year’s Women in Art festivities were spread out in a 3-day event, beginning on Friday with an art class and art talk by Lucia Ellis; while on Saturday, there was a sisterhood fashion and design marketplace in front of the Bliss with an additional 30 artists displaying their art; and finally, on Sunday, a fashion runway by the sea.

Since the art world continues to be a male-dominated field, Vasquez said, the Women in Art event is crucial in helping give women the platform they deserve, especially during Women’s Month.