August 2024

Women's Equality Day

As we commemorate Women’s Equality Day on August 26th, we reflect on the progress made towards gender equality while recognizing the challenges that remain, particularly in addressing the wealth gap in arts and culture organizations.

Women in these sectors often face significant disparities in pay and leadership opportunities. According to recent studies, women hold only 30% of leadership positions in the largest museums and arts organizations, and there is a persistent pay gap where women earn significantly less than their male counterparts. These inequities highlight the ongoing need for systemic change to ensure that women have equal opportunities to thrive in all aspects of their careers.

This Women’s Equality Day, let's commit to supporting initiatives and policies that advance gender equality, and celebrate the contributions of women in arts and culture. Together, we can work towards a more equitable future. To learn more about these gender-based inequities and explore strategies for change, we encourage you to participate in the following webinars and workshops. These sessions offer valuable insights and actionable steps to help bridge the gender gap in arts and culture spaces:

• "Empowering Gender Equality through Public Art" (webinar): This workshop provides a case study on using public art as a powerful tool for addressing gender issues in decision-making positions in the arts community and society in general. Participants will discuss how to use artistic practices and policy briefs on gender equality in public art and collaborate with others who are passionate about promoting social justice and equality. The workshop is moderated by Engaged Research Fund recipient Ruslan M. Rahimov, an anthropologist at the American University of Central Asia, and include fellow Engaged Research Fund recipient Jarkyn Shadymanova, sociologist, and co-author of the research. Watch the full webinar here

• "Brushing Aside Injustice -- Art, Women and Innovation: A Call for Creative Empowerment in Training" (article): In the world of art an insidious reality lurks beneath the canvas: a gender pay gap that painfully exposes the struggles faced by women artists. A recent article by The Guardian sheds light on the profound impact of this shocking difference citing evidence from a leading academic and activist. Read the article here

• "Advancing Gender Equality in the Workplace" by The Female Quotient (training): This training session focusing on strategies to promote gender equality and support women's advancement in the workplace. Learn more here

• "Effective Cross-Cultural Communication" by apex Hatchers (article): With employees from different cultures, cross-cultural communication has become an essential skill in the workplace. Effective cross-cultural communication can improve teamwork, productivity, and job satisfaction, resulting in a positive impact on the bottom line. However, communicating effectively across cultures requires more than just language proficiency. Read the full article here

BOOST DIVERSITY AWARENESS

Challenge yourself this month to boost your diversity awareness calendar usage.

• Learn about August 2024 Events - including notable dates like International Youth Day, World Humanitarian Day, International Day of People of African Descent and other cultural observances, and more!
• Schedule Respectfully - With our PAFA Diversity Awareness Calendar, never forget important dates or events. Respect religious observances, holidays, and events.
• New Feature! Email signature images! Now you can build D&I with every email you send - find out how to add Diversity Calendar banners to your Outlook email signature.

Save the Date!

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (August 9th): The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed to promote and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world. The date commemorates the first United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations meeting in Geneva in 1982. We encourage you to observe the day by gaining a better understanding of Indigenous issues around the world, by listening to Indigenous voices, and by reflecting on the vital achievements and contributions that Indigenous Peoples make to the world, such as understanding and stewardship of the environment we all share.

Announcement on Updated Title IX Regulations and Training

The Department of Education (DOE) announced forthcoming updates to Title IX regulations, which went into effect on August 1, 2024. These new regulations introduce additional mandates and procedures for administering, reporting, and investigating Title IX cases. In preparation for these changes, PAFA is committed to enhancing our Title IX training, policies, and processes.

In March 2024, we conducted the 2024 Employee Experience and Engagement Survey, and the feedback gathered has been instrumental in shaping these updates. We are pleased to announce that the survey results have informed our new Title IX training modules, which will be rolled out to all employees in the coming months. These updated trainings are crucial as all PAFA employees are Mandatory Reporters under Title IX.

The new training sessions will cover the latest regulatory requirements, best practices for reporting and investigating cases, and strategies for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Participation in these trainings is mandatory for all staff and faculty to ensure that we are fully compliant with the new regulations and equipped to support our community effectively.

We appreciate your continued dedication to fostering a safe and equitable environment at PAFA. For more information, please visit our updated Title IX policy on our website.