“To your civic rules!” Is the theme of the competition / exhibition launched by the town hall of Nîmes as part of the “Women and hygienic precariousness” operation. The objective: mobilize the artistic community, both amateur and professional, to raise awareness among the general public on the subject of female periods and lift taboos. This is a first in France, an unprecedented awareness campaign. Sophie Roulle, Deputy Head of Culture: “Through works of art, we can challenge people, break taboos. So that both men and women can talk about it freely. It is possible that we shock, but art is used for that too. This should make it possible to de-dramatize, to also bring closer, certainly“
In Nîmes, around 10,000 women are in a precarious period of menstruation.
“The fact that a woman in 2021 has difficulty accessing hygiene products, such as towels, is not acceptable (..) The idea is to play down the issue of periods, menstrual precariousness. May women, if they are victims, no longer be ashamed. We must make this subject a non-subject in the years to come “. Dolores Orlay-Moureau, deputy delegate for health at the town hall of Nîmes
Marie Orcel is general secretary of the Protestant assistance association in Nîmes: “The people we welcome live on less than one euro per day and per person. So this money is used primarily for food. Hygiene products come second. However, we know very well that for women, it is absolutely essential to live this period of menstruation every month. If you don’t have periodic protection, you go to college, your clothes are stained, so there is withdrawal. It is a very strong attack on human dignity, on the dignity of women, and young women in particular.“
For those who wish to participate in this contest “To Your Rules of Citizenship!”, All you have to do is complete a registration form and return it, along with photos of their work to the Department of Cultural Affairs at the following email address: [email protected] or [email protected] before January 7, 2022. The selected works must then be delivered directly to the Jules Salles gallery in February.
The competition is sponsored by the Nîmes painter Philippe Roussel. Illustration, drawing, painting… all forms of plastic art are accepted.
The City will promote the three best works by awarding a “Professional Prize” of € 1000, an “Amateur Prize” of € 600 and a “People’s Favorite Prize” of € 400.
The exhibition will take place from March 4 to 20, 2022 at the Jules Salles gallery.
–
