Men are still the dominant face in adventure pursuits with masculine characteristics often rewarded whilst female voices go unheard but an innovative grant is currently available to help turn this around.
The Travel Play Live Women’s Adventure Grant is not about ‘Insta-worthy’ pictures of smiling women with perfect hair. It’s about creating an entry point for women and girls on the periphery of adventure.
There is $20,000 plus gear up for grabs for four Australian women who display a creative and innovative approach towards adventure in the following categories:
- 18 and under
- Adventure for change
- Adventure film and photography
- Over 50s
Travel Play Live co-founder Kerryann Hayes explains how the grant came about.
“It all started with some conversations with adventurous women within our network, leaders in their own right, and all round epic women in early 2017 when they informed us they had been knocked back from expedition funding because women’s adventures weren’t deemed ‘epic’ enough.”
That got Kerryann and fellow Travel Play Live founder Amy Heague thinking more deeply about the issue.
“Firstly what is the definition of epic, and what is it that causes such a controversial reaction when the words adventure and women are used in the same sentence.
“And secondly, with women tipping the scales when it comes to participating in many outdoor active pursuits, why are women still not being seen or heard?”
While the word ‘epic’ does tend to conjure images of extreme adrenaline filled escapades, the Travel Play Live team and grant supporters believe it can be defined as ‘extending beyond the usual or ordinary’.
The grant also recognises the differences in the feminine experience of the outdoors and that this difference should not exclude women from being able to access funding for their adventurous pursuits.
Travel Play Live Women’s Adventure Grant 2018 is proudly supported by Rays, Jack Wolfskin, The Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour, Fully Rad and crowd funding supporters within the broader Australian adventure community.
The Grant is not just about sharing stories, but actively supporting Australian women within the adventure space, helping turn the dreams of women of all ages, with a passion for adventure, change, exploration and expedition into a reality.
To find out more about the grant go to Travel Play Live website: www.travelplaylive.com.au
