A Voice for Women, A Voice for Change

Musici Ireland Blog Post: A Voice for Women, A Voice for Change

Written by Beth McNinch, Artistic Director of Musici Ireland

Finding our voice as a company can be challenging, especially in a world where turmoil and injustice seem so constant. Right now, heartbreaking crises unfold across the globe. Women’s rights are being stripped away, not only in places like Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s new laws restrict women’s freedoms to an unimaginable extent but also in places like the United States, where hard-fought rights are suddenly at risk. And in Palestine, where the ongoing conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, it’s women and children who bear the brunt of the violence.

At Musici Ireland, our mission is grounded in giving women a voice and a safe space to create and collaborate. Our work centres on empowering women to express their stories, a purpose we pursue passionately, especially through our project, A Mother’s Voice. This initiative was born out of a desire to give survivors the opportunity to speak, to be heard. During our performances, their voices are amplified — sometimes for the first time in public. And as we watch the world unfold around us, we realise this project’s mission is more urgent than ever.

In Afghanistan, we’re seeing the horrifying reality of women being silenced entirely, even banned from speaking with one another. And it forces us to ask: how far behind are other nations where women’s freedoms are slowly eroding? This global regression is why we, as women, must continue to stand together and support one another in any way possible.

Our role as artists goes beyond entertainment; we are here to illuminate hard truths and provoke thought. Art has always served as a mirror, reflecting society’s struggles and, at times, acting as a rallying cry for change. Not everyone may agree with the messages within our works. But if we can make people think — if we can ignite a conversation, prompt a moment of reflection — then we’re doing our job.

At Musici Ireland, we commit to keeping these conversations alive. We will continue to shine a light on the injustices women face and celebrate how far we’ve come while acknowledging the distance we still need to travel. It is more vital than ever that we keep creating, keep speaking out, and keep advocating for change. Art is not merely an escape; it is a means to confront the world’s realities and, hopefully, inspire others to join us in the pursuit of justice and equality.

Our work will continue, for as long as there are voices that need to be heard.

Image is “Still I Rise”, a commission we made from artist Bimbi Urquhart to celebrate our tenth anniversary. Named after the Maya Angelou poem