Damel’s framework for Change :

Our 5 social Responsibility & Direct Impact Initiatives

The barriers to visibility, connection, and leadership that women face aren’t abstract concepts; they are realities we have experienced personally, that our peers and family navigate, and that we know will impact us at different stages of life.

Damsel isn’t just a space—it’s a necessary intervention. A place where women are not an afterthought but the starting point. Where visibility, opportunity, and community aren’t optional, but fundamental.

The barriers women face in business, the arts, and public spaces are deeply ingrained. They shape who gets seen, who gets funded, and who gets to lead. Damsel was created to challenge these systems—not just by existing, but by actively reshaping the landscape for women in business, culture, and community.

But change doesn’t happen through intention alone—it requires action. Below, we present our framework for change, outlining the concrete steps we are taking to dismantle inequality, create opportunity, and build a future where women are not just included, but empowered to lead.

National Museum of Women in the Arts. “Statistics in the Guerrilla Girls Talk Back: Revealing the Hard Facts on Discrimination.” NMWA, 2021.

Lack of Representation & Visibility for Women in Arts, Business, and Culture.

Women’s contributions are often erased, overshadowed, or underfunded. We are changing this by:

  • The Damsel Residency Programme, providing a 3-month platform for women artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders to showcase their work and gain career support.

  • Curated exhibitions, events, and panels that highlight women’s creative and professional achievements.

  • Media & storytelling initiatives that amplify women’s voices, work, and cultural contributions.

UN Women. "UN Women ad series reveals widespread sexism." UN Women, 21 October 2013. .

Tackling Gender Inequality in Professional & Social Spheres

From wage gaps to career barriers, women are routinely undervalued. We are closing these gaps by:

  • Hosting business & career workshops on pay negotiation, leadership, and investment-readiness.

  • Building the Damsel Membership & Network, a professional and social space where women can connect, collaborate, and advance their careers.

  • Partnering with women-led and equity-driven businesses to make hiring, funding, and mentorship more accessible.

.Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative 1981. Pioneer in feminist architecture and design. Barbican, 2021.

Reducing Social Isolation at Different Phases of Womanhood.

Women often navigate career shifts, personal growth, and life transitions alone. We are building a space for meaningful connection by:

  • Creating community-focused events, socials, and mentorship programs that foster long-term relationships.

  • Encouraging intergenerational knowledge-sharing, ensuring that women across different life stages have spaces to support and learn from each other.

  • Designing Damsel as a natural hub for connection, where conversations, collaborations, and friendships happen effortlessly.

Festival of Media. “Mind the Gap - Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG).” Festival of Media Global, 2020.

Breaking Barriers to Career Advancement & Leadership

From wage gaps to career barriers, women are routinely undervalued. We are closing these gaps by:

  • The Damsel Fund – An annual grant supporting women-led businesses, creative projects, and grassroots initiatives.

  • Investment & Entrepreneurship Bootcamps – Practical sessions that teach women how to secure funding, scale their ideas, and navigate financial barriers.

  • Mentorship & Accelerator Programs – Offering structured guidance to help women turn their ambitions into reality.

Glitch Film Festival. QTIBIPOC-focused film festival. 2015-2019.

X-@Glitchfilmfest

Increasing Cultural Representation & Intersectional Inclusion

Women often navigate career shifts, personal growth, and life transitions alone. We are building a space for meaningful connection by:

  • Curated Programming Led by Diverse Voices – Every workshop, talk, and event is intentionally designed to center and amplify underrepresented communities.

  • Collaboration Over Tokenism – Partnering with BIPOC, queer, and marginalised women-led initiatives to ensure equitable access to opportunities and decision-making spaces.

  • Built by Us, For Us – As an interracial, queer-founded space, Damsel’s core values are embedded in everything we do—not as an afterthought, but as a foundation.