“There is still, unfortunately, a lot of inequality in the arts sector between genders, meaning women continue to be underrepresented in galleries and museums,” stated Astrid Sauer, one of the project coordinators.
The grant, amounting to 27,000 euros, is a result of a partnership between the Freeport Lisboa Fashion Outlet and the Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlet, in collaboration with SOTA — State of the Art and Portugal Manual.
Astrid Sauer, general director of SOTA, a cultural marketing agency, mentioned that the unprecedented grant is aimed at women residing in Portugal, over eighteen years old, whose work is not represented by galleries.
The support covers fields such as visual arts, crafts, design, sculpture, and textiles. In addition to financial assistance, it offers training with experts and a professional communication strategy.
This edition received 210 applications, from which ten finalists were chosen: Ana Leça (painting, installation, drawing), Beatriz Narciso (painting), Elizabeth Prentis (performance, sculpture, installation), Flávia Costa (drawing), Ilfu-Soi Studio (Jéssica Ilfu-Soi, with sculpture), Joana Dionísio (photography), Joana Paraíso (painting, drawing), Patrícia Pettitt (photography), Vânia Reichartz (textile, installation, sculpture), and Vera Fonseka (painting and collage).
Opened in May, the competition selected ten finalists by the end of June who had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses in various areas, including communication and social media, management and financial sustainability, artistic identity, and professional presentation, to enhance their journey.
By September 30th, all finalists will present their project for evaluation by a jury. In mid-October, the winner, who receives 5,000 euros for the production of their work, will be determined. The winner will also connect with a network of arts sector professionals, and an exhibition of their work is planned for 2026.
“This project is for emerging female artists with a precise aim to strengthen the female presence in art and culture, offering financial support but also mentorship and visibility for women artists in Portugal,” highlighted the coordinator.
Astrid Sauer noted that in 2022 “only 9% of the global auction market was occupied by works of female artists, with stark price differences, as the average selling price is more than 40% lower compared to male artists.”
The Austrian-born coordinator, residing in Portugal, further indicated that “globally, between 2008 and 2019, of the 197 billion art pieces sold at auctions, women sold only 2%.”
“We are talking about such a large gap that we felt compelled to do something about it. We want to help and empower women artists. There is a lot of talent in Portugal,” stated the initiative’s coordinator, in collaboration with Filipa Belo from Portugal Manual and Catarina Tomaz, representing Freeport Lisboa and Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlet.
Furthermore, the organization invited the visual artist Joana Vasconcelos — “one of the most successful artists in Portugal” — to join the initiative as an ambassador for this first edition.
Today, Joana Vasconcelos will conduct a masterclass as part of the project.
“Joana Vasconcelos has greatly assisted us in promoting this grant by being a living proof that work and talent can achieve results. As a woman artist, she has publicly stated she faced many challenges throughout her career,” and managed to boost her work through a grant won from the EDP Foundation.
Asked about national figures regarding this gender inequality in the culture sector, Astrid Sauer replied that, “unfortunately, there are few such statistics in the arts sector in Portugal, but many exist globally and in Europe which prove this inequality.”
However, the coordinator observes that “new generations already show a new attitude towards women’s artworks and are much less conservative.”
The WAF organization hopes to continue providing the grant annually and to support all ten finalists in various fields, to “create a network of contacts and aid” for women artists.
The grant is integrated into VIA Outlets’ cultural sustainability strategy, the owner of the two involved shopping centers, aiming to promote positive impacts on communities in line with Sustainable Development Goals, according to the organization.
