When Cerise Lim Jacobs, Executive Producer of White Snake Projects, read about the murder of George Floyd, she wanted to do more than make a statement of solidarity. She wanted to use the full power of her art to explore systemic racism. One year later, White Snake’s virtual opera about racism and prisons is opening.

Women composers are creating amazing, cutting-edge work these days, and one of the best places to learn about them is Composers Now. Composers Now was founded by Tania León, a powerhouse conductor and composer, whose works are performed around the world. Born in Havana, León is a champion of women composers and composers of color.

SWAN Day Connecticut, an annual music festival organized by Super SWAN Jennifer Hill, will take place on Saturday, April 17 at 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. EST. The free show will be streamed live on the SWAN Day CT Facebook page. Jennifer Hill has built a wonderful community of women artists who have come together through her 14 years of SWAN events.

“Hollywood: Her Story, An Illustrated History of Women and the Movies” sets out to document that women have been in the film business since the flickering early days of its existence. The lavishly illustrated book provides information on approximately 1200 women in film, starting with Alice Guy-Blaché in 1896.

Indigenous girls in the innovative Daughters of Tradition program at Milwaukee’s HIR Wellness Institute celebrated their third SWAN Day this year by partnering with visual artist Valaria Tatera, a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Tatera’s work often explores self- identity and other Indigenous issues.

Today is Support Women Artists Now Day/SWAN Day 2021. In this tumultuous year, WomenArts President Martha Richards reflects on the power of women artists to create positive change. She is hopeful because she believes that women artists have the imagination to help the world recover.