ACTSAFE
Art, Advocacy, and Empowerment Against Gender-Based Violence
ACTSAFE is an artistic and social project that harnesses the power of performance art as a tool for empowerment and visibility for women and femininities who have experienced or are sensitized to gender-based violence. Through creative practices and advocacy methods, we aim to empower individuals, cultivate collective voices, and build communities of care and resistance to gender-based violence.
The project began in April 2025 and is implemented by RUNONART in collaboration with the Hellenic Association of University Women – ELEGYP.
The workshops - each lasting 4 hours- took place 24-27 November 2025 in the Athens School of Fine Arts.
Through experiential workshops — writing, movement, visual storytelling, and theatrical advocacy — participants were invited to listen to their bodies, reflect on personal and collective experiences, and give voice to stories that are often silenced.
At the same time, the creation of a digital WOMANIFESTO TOOLKIT was created, gathering recommended practices, exercises, and tools for artistic advocacy. This will be available for further use in local communities and empowerment structures.
The program will culminate in the preparation of a Public Advocacy Event, where artworks and actions emerging from the workshops will be presented, amplifying the project’s impact and offering visibility to the collective voices of the participants.
The aim of the project is to create spaces of care, safety, and connection — a shared ground for expression and resistance. The program leads to the creation of a personal and collective manifesto, highlighting art as a tool against gender-based violence.
We remain open to collaborations and synergies with organizations that support the voices of women and femininities, artistic expression, and advocacy for human rights.
Project Duration: April 2025 – March 2026
The project is being implemented under the PREVENT program by RUNONART in partnership with ELEGYP for the prevention and combating of gender-based violence, co-funded by the European Union, through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme and by the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre – Cyprus.
ACTSAFE is Co-funded by the European Union
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency or the Bodossaki Foundation. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
“The space is part of the world, not a place of entertainment.”
- Maguy Marin
