TGt Meets...Fiona Da Silva-Adams from Revolution Performing Arts - IWD

Wednesday 8th March is International Women’s Day - and the theme this year is #embracequity. Fiona Da Silva-Adams, the Founder & CEO of Revolution Performing Arts answers some interesting IWD questions...

If you have a team – do you have a gender mix? Are there challenges in achieving this?

We are mainly female, 85% female and 15% male

What does #embracequity mean to you? 

At RPA we meet people’s needs.  Whether this is making provision for my team to provide a work environment that meets the needs of their family life, or providing a performing arts environment that meets the sensory needs of young people or providing an outlet to express creativity so a young person can reach their full potential.  People are unique and #embraceequity celebrates that unique value.

In which of these areas do you support women? 

• Women and Sustainability
• Women & Wealth/Money
• Women & Work/Business
• Women In Tech
• Women in the Arts/Creative sector
• Women and Health 

Or do you feel strongly about any of the above themes?

I celebrate women in general to be empowered to be the best they can be regardless of societal bias.  The arts can provide a format for expressing equity however, much more needs to be done to undo the stereotypical bias of women in the arts especially when it comes to image, perception of beauty and poor societal judgement of contribution when it comes to a familial setting.

Which women have inspired you over the last year generally? 

Ellen Gayle Harewood, was a creative soul who found expression through the tools of drama, both as an actor and a children’s drama teacher.  She was a RPA Leader and used to drop everything to come and support us with our work with Afghan refugees.  Sadly, she passed away suddenly at the age of 42.  Despite have a debilitating illness, Ellen refused to allow it to dim her sunshine and was forever a beam of joy to all children and adults who met her.

Which local women have inspired you in the last year? 

Elizabeth (Ellie) Hunt is an autistic person who does not specify their gender.  They have three children who all have varying needs including autism.  Ellie runs Hunt Scholars and is passionate about families with children with additional needs and regularly acts is an advocate for them in tribunals when having to challenge the status quo.  Ellie is a warm understanding human who never stops fighting for injustice and despite having their own challenges, overcomes their battles daily by basking in the success of others.

What do you think are the biggest issues facing women this year and beyond? 

The abuse continues to remain the biggest factor that affects women today. When even some of our police force cannot be trusted for fear of violence; our young women cannot go to a nightclub without fear of being spiked (intravenously or in a drink); when we cannot walk home on our own; when we have to ‘warn’ our young women to be safe and to lean on male friendships to protect them. This is not how it should be. Women have a right to live in this society without fear.

For example, when we finished teaching the other evening, we stopped and waited with a young woman who had finished work and thought she was being followed! When will it end? When more women are in positions of influence and can balance the status quo to ensure balances of power are leveled. We can strengthen and empower our young women but this should be a given not a process to protect them. Will this happen in my lifetime? I am not so sure. As an ambassador for Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service, I am passionate about preventing abuse in families and how promoting how they can be safe and furthermore, thrive.

Why do you think it's important to have an International Women's Day?

Women are in the minority on a power basis and we need to support each other to balance the equity #embraceequity.

To find out more about Revolution Performing Arts please visit their website here.