Professional sculptor Rebecca Hawkins discusses how art can communicate messages on equality, diversity and inclusion in uniquely powerful ways
Rebecca Hawkins is a UK-based sculptor whose work celebrates human stories of strength and freedom. Public commissions have included 'the Gurkha' in Folkestone town centre (for which she was shortlisted for the Marsh award for excellence in public sculpture) and 'The Mother and Child', commissioned to raise awareness for a stigmatised group of Vietnamese women and children called the Lai Dai Han and now sited permanently in St James’s Square, London.
Rebecca has the ability to use her art to give voice to the voiceless and represent the pain (and triumphs) of people affected by some of the harshest experiences in life. Particularly drawn to stories around women and water, she has collaborated with Frank Water (a British charity that provides vital access to safe water for communities in rural India and Nepal) creating a series of sculptures... one of which ('A Better View') host Lila came across at a water conference and felt moved to buy (despite never having bought art before).
That connection between Lila and Rebecca's work opened the path to the fascinating and inspiring conversation you hear in this episode, which really gets across how art has a power to communicate on EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) in ways that traditional corporate policies and processes often cannot.
Topic discussed include...
For anyone involved in delivering EDI policies, this episode will open your eyes to potential new ways of delivering progress. For anyone listening, this is a rewarding glimpse into the processes and inspirations of a top level artist.
To find out more about, and see, Rebecca's work, click here
To find more about Frank Water, click here