A two-day workshop titled Art for Equality began on Friday at the Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University, bringing together 90 students, teachers and artists from 9 universities to explore how art can challenge inequality and inspire social change.
Organised under the four-year project Shomotay Tarunno – Youth for Equality, jointly run by Plan International Bangladesh and the JAAGO Foundation Trust with support from the Embassy of the Netherlands, the workshop is being supervised by the Department of Art History. It will conclude on Saturday evening.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Professor Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University, who served as the chief guest. In her remarks, she highlighted the progress and challenges facing women in higher education, noting that while more than half of DU’s students are women, overall female participation in higher education nationwide still lags behind. She urged students to use the workshop as a platform to exchange ideas and contribute to building a just, discrimination-free society.
Special guests included Associate Professor Debashish Pal, Provost of Jagannath Hall; Dr Md Abdus Sattar, Honorary Professor, Department of Oriental Art; Professor A A M Kaoser Hassan, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Fine Art; Nishath Sultana, Director of Influencing, Campaigns and Communications at Plan International Bangladesh; and Iftekhar-ul-Karim, Senior Manager at JAAGO Foundation Trust.
The programme was presided over by Dr Shake Manir Uddin, Chairperson of the Department of Art History and Curator of the Workshop. Assistant Professor Sanjoy Kumar Dey, Co-curator of the event, outlined the workshop’s objectives and activities.
Professor Kaoser Hassan emphasised the role of artists as agents of change, stating that artists belong to everyone and that their work can challenge discrimination. Plan International Bangladesh’s Nishath Sultana praised painting as a medium that transcends language, telling participants that their brushstrokes can become “songs of life free from any discrimination.”
Participants represent 9 institutions including the University of Dhaka, Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University, Khulna University, Rajshahi University, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Dhaka Art College, Narayanganj Fine Art Institute and Jeshore S M Sultan Art College.
An exhibition showcasing artworks created during the workshop will open at Zainul Gallery on November 26, alongside the launch of a digital catalogue featuring the artworks and artist profiles. Ten artists will be awarded, while all participants will receive certificates. Three thematic seminars will also be held on the same day.
The workshop aims to break negative gender stereotypes and promote positive attitudes through art, while encouraging universities to include gender equality topics within higher education curricula.
