POWA Scotland

If you're reading this, you have subscribed to become a member of POWA.
This is where you can join in our discussions and hear the songs we release based on womxn's experiences of sexism and abuse.

• POWA's FIRST SONG 'POCKETLIGHT' WAS RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 15th EXCLUSIVELY HERE ON OUR MEMBER SPACE. 
  'POCKETLIGHT' features POWA ARTIST #1, the Scottish violinist Laura Wilkie.
  Check out the song POCKETLIGHT in this post👇🏻
  https://www.patreon.com/posts/43922639
• POWA's SECOND SONG 'SERVING SUGGESTION' WAS RELEASED ON JANUARY 1st EXCLUSIVELY HERE ON OUR MEMBER SPACE. 
  'SERVING SUGGESTION' features POWA ARTIST #2, the Scottish writer Good Dog.
  Check out the song SERVING SUGGESTION in this post👇🏻
  https://www.patreon.com/posts/45671510
  

Our Online Harassment Policy
Welcome to our Patreon page which is an art zone, a feminist group, a space for music fans, and most importantly a safe discussion space for every age group, gender, and sexuality. If you are being harassed in our space, or witness any kind of harassment on this page, please contact us and we will deal with it immediately.

It is important that womxn taking part in our discussions, listening to our songs, or completing our survey must take very good care of themselves in the process. If anyone is triggered by the questions or process they are encouraged to reach out to us by personal message so we can help, and also refer to the signposting list creating by SWIM for support: https://www.scottishwomeninventingmusic.com/a-response


POWA stands for Protection of Women in the Arts. Our mission is:

• to raise funds through Patreon which will provide session and commission fees for artists, providing them with opportunities to work on funded projects during the current pandemic
• to raise awareness about discrimination through the work we create in collaboration with these artists
• to host and support a non-violent, nurturing discussion space where it's ok to agree and disagree with each other while we brainstorm the best ways to create change in our industries
• to instigate change and ensure a safer return to the creative industries for womxn artists; to build back a better music scene

POWA's songs tell the stories of the collective experience womxn face which is sexual discrimination. Many of our voices have been silenced, our stories erased. Many womxn end up being heavily punished themselves when they complain. Where is the justice in that? And why has sexual assault, sexual discrimination, sexual coercion, bullying against a person for their gender, been allowed to continue in the art scene for so long?

POWA hopes that by raising more awareness of the issues faced by womxn, we can make radical changes to the arts and build back a better, safer and stronger music and art scene.

Look out for our first POWA Award this Spring. Our members will soon be able to nominate and vote for organisations who are supporting womxn and working towards instigating real change within their field. This might be an arts venue, a promoter or a charity. We hope these awards will inspire everyone working in the creative industries to support womxn and build a better working environment for all.


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• Where can POWA members go for help if you're having problems, are triggered, or having a hard time when thinking or talking about issues of sexism and discrimination?
  

Each Other and Us
Send us a private message and reach out to each other. This is a community build on care and respect. Let's start strong, and make our community even stronger every month as we continue.

Rape Crisis
has a helpline phone number if you need to chat to somebody on the phone about sexual assault
https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

SWIM
are a registered charity in Scotland who have excellent signposting services
https://www.scottishwomeninventingmusic.com/suppor...

Music Minds Matter
Have a helpline for mental health if you need to chat to somebody on the phone
https://www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk

• Who are POWA's Sister Organisations?

The F-List
https://thef-list.uk

Fanny Riot
https://www.facebook.com/beafannydinnaebeadick/

Keychange UK
https://www.keychange.eu/directory/ambassador-prof...

The Bit Collective
https://www.thebitcollective.co.uk

Popgirlz
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=popgirlz

Nice N Sleazy
https://www.nicensleazy.com

Suffering Fools Records 
https://www.sufferingfoolsrecords.com

• Who inspires POWA?
  

The ISM
https://www.ism.org

The Musicians Union
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/23/arti...

Musicians Working, Working Musicians
https://musiciansworkin.bandcamp.com

SWIM 
https://www.scottishwomeninventingmusic.com/blog