Women In Animation announced the launch of the WIA India Collective, which will bring together talented women creators from India in order to further WIA’s commitment to global community building that ensures people of underrepresented gender identities feel supported in the industry, are afforded connections and opportunities for mobility in the field, and have the opportunity for learning and growth.
“The WIA India Collective initiative is another way WIA continues to build a truly global community meant to support people of underrepresented gender identities within the animation and VFX industries. Through this critical initiative, we can provide creatives around the world the support they need to flourish,” said WIA president Marge Dean.
This collaborative effort is being spearheaded by Dancing Atoms India creative director and writer Saraswathi Vani Balgam.
“My objective is to create a space in India for women creatives and animators. We believe that talent is universal. There is a huge creative talent pool in India with great potential in the animation, VFX, and virtual production fields. Through the WIA India Collective, I want them to have a space to connect and share their vision with the world,” said Balgam.
The current volunteer team of WIA – IC includes Disha Agarwal, Madhavi Pagariya, Indira Gupta, Priyanka Ajit, and Shweta Marathe.
The goals set for the next few years are to:
- Promote women’s leadership in creative storytelling, production, technology and artist management.
- To recommend women speakers from India to panels
- To support the equitable treatment of women in the workplace
- To celebrate women’s creative talent
- To have regular mixers for the talent to network and spark meaningful conversations.
- To invite key leaders and volunteers to come and be part of WIA-IC
They are having a Women in Animation – India Collective Mixer in Hyderabad and Indore in the first week of November.
For more information, please contact: info@wiaindia.com.
To know more about WIA, please visit womeninanimation.org or follow on Instagram, LinkedIn.
Extending WIA’s Communities program through WIA Collectives is part of the organisation’s continuing commitment to the global animation community to empower and advocate for people of underrepresented gender identities in the art, technology, production, and business of animation. Establishing global communities provides talented creatives with the support they need to thrive and to create a more equitable industry for all people. WIA India Collective will join existing WIA global communities including WIA Ireland and WIA Mexico.
“We are thrilled to have the support of Vani (Saraswathi Balgam) on this important initiative. WIA understands the vital contributions being made by women creatives in India to the animation industry and wants to support them through our global communities,” said WIA chair of global chapters Gail Currey.
Additional support is provided by ASIFA India and their sub-chapters.
“It gives us great pleasure to support WIA so that further measures can be implemented to attain a 50/50 gender ratio in India,” said ASIFA Animation Foundation director and core committee member Sanjay Khimesara.
India has emerged as an industry powerhouse in the animation field in recent years. The Indian animation industry has seen overall continued growth throughout the years and, according to statistics, it’s estimated that in 2024 it will see a growth rate of 29 per cent.