Arts, Culture, and Heritage as Drivers of Change
WOMA JAZZ The 1° Female Jazz Festival EU
WOMA JAZZ – A replicable cultural model for women-led European music networks,
WOMA JAZZ is a PIONEERING European festival entirely dedicated to women jazz musicians, transforming gender imbalance into artistic excellence. Through ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS and INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION, it creates CULTURAL IMPACT, empowers female TALENT, and offers a SCALABLE MODEL for INCLUSIVE music ecosystems across Europe.
Italy
National
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It involves other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
2010-12-31
No
No
No
Organisation
WOMA JAZZ is a pioneering European model of female cultural empowerment, implemented in Italy and transferable across contexts.
KEY ELEMENTS
a) PROBLEM → invisibility of women jazz musicians
b) SOLUTION → a jazz festival entirely dedicated to women
c) SCALE → 100 sold-out concerts, 30 international artists, 3,000+ audience
d) IMPACT→ cultural shift and emergence of new talents
d) AWARDS → 3 Medals from the President of the Italian Republic, high-level institutional recognition
Implemented across 4 cities and multiple editions, demonstrating consistent audience demand and territorial scalability
FAZZ CLUB’s vision: education and culture are the only antidotes to war, corruption, crime and fanaticism
We apply SOCIAL DESIGN: creating projects that improve society
A fundamental design principle: identify gaps, understand causes, design solutions
15 years ago we asked: WHY ARE WOMEN JAZZ MUSICIANS NOT VISIBLE?
NOTE
UNESCO recognises jazz and classical music as universal art forms
Jazz is defined as a universal language of peace and a powerful tool for intercultural dialogue
KEY ELEMENTS
a) PROBLEM → invisibility of women jazz musicians
b) SOLUTION → a jazz festival entirely dedicated to women
c) SCALE → 100 sold-out concerts, 30 international artists, 3,000+ audience
d) IMPACT→ cultural shift and emergence of new talents
d) AWARDS → 3 Medals from the President of the Italian Republic, high-level institutional recognition
Implemented across 4 cities and multiple editions, demonstrating consistent audience demand and territorial scalability
FAZZ CLUB’s vision: education and culture are the only antidotes to war, corruption, crime and fanaticism
We apply SOCIAL DESIGN: creating projects that improve society
A fundamental design principle: identify gaps, understand causes, design solutions
15 years ago we asked: WHY ARE WOMEN JAZZ MUSICIANS NOT VISIBLE?
NOTE
UNESCO recognises jazz and classical music as universal art forms
Jazz is defined as a universal language of peace and a powerful tool for intercultural dialogue
KEY ELEMENTS
a) ORIGIN → gender gap in jazz
b) PROCESS → creation of an international network of women musicians
c) METHOD → 100% original productions and strong intercultural collaboration
d) RESULT → emergence of a female artistic community
Jazz requires high technical mastery, creativity, improvisation and musical sensitivity.
Yet women were largely invisible in this field.
We questioned this imbalance and challenged a persistent bias about women’s artistic capabilities.
WHAT WE DID
We searched across European countries to enable cross-border artistic mobility and build a European network of women jazz musicians.
We identified outstanding artists, connected them, and invited them to meet, collaborate and create original musical projects, which we produced and presented on stage at WOMA JAZZ.
The audience response was immediate and powerful, revealing both surprise and recognition of female excellence in jazz performance.
a) ORIGIN → gender gap in jazz
b) PROCESS → creation of an international network of women musicians
c) METHOD → 100% original productions and strong intercultural collaboration
d) RESULT → emergence of a female artistic community
Jazz requires high technical mastery, creativity, improvisation and musical sensitivity.
Yet women were largely invisible in this field.
We questioned this imbalance and challenged a persistent bias about women’s artistic capabilities.
WHAT WE DID
We searched across European countries to enable cross-border artistic mobility and build a European network of women jazz musicians.
We identified outstanding artists, connected them, and invited them to meet, collaborate and create original musical projects, which we produced and presented on stage at WOMA JAZZ.
The audience response was immediate and powerful, revealing both surprise and recognition of female excellence in jazz performance.
1) Gender Equality in Music
2) International Artistic Network
3) Talent Discovery and Empowerment
4) Public-Private Cultural Collaboration
5) Replicable and Generative Cultural Model
KEY ELEMENTS
SOCIAL + CULTURAL + ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
a) SOCIAL → EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
b) CULTURAL → VALORISATION OF FEMALE TALENT
c) ECONOMIC → MIXED PUBLIC / PRIVATE MODEL
d) ENVIRONMENTAL → LOW-IMPACT EVENTS, use of existing infrastructures and optimised artist mobility, reducing resources and waste
PIONEERS
WOMA JAZZ has been pioneering, accelerating the value and perception of EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES within an underdeveloped cultural context
HUMAN STORIES
WOMA JAZZ has also collected powerful human experiences.
One EU-based musician, originally from a Middle Eastern country, reported that when visiting her family, her instrument was confiscated at the border, as women were not allowed to play music.
SOCIAL + CULTURAL + ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
a) SOCIAL → EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
b) CULTURAL → VALORISATION OF FEMALE TALENT
c) ECONOMIC → MIXED PUBLIC / PRIVATE MODEL
d) ENVIRONMENTAL → LOW-IMPACT EVENTS, use of existing infrastructures and optimised artist mobility, reducing resources and waste
PIONEERS
WOMA JAZZ has been pioneering, accelerating the value and perception of EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES within an underdeveloped cultural context
HUMAN STORIES
WOMA JAZZ has also collected powerful human experiences.
One EU-based musician, originally from a Middle Eastern country, reported that when visiting her family, her instrument was confiscated at the border, as women were not allowed to play music.
BEAUTY = TRANSFORMATIVE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
KEY ELEMENTS
a) ORIGINAL productions
b) INTERCULTURAL encounters
c) LIVE EMOTIONAL experience transforming urban and cultural spaces into inclusive and identity-building places
d) FEMALE IDENTITY in music
The WOMA JAZZ model invited women musicians from different countries to meet, connect and create
ORIGINAL MUSICAL PROJECTS
STRONG INTERCULTURALITY among artists from diverse backgrounds and languages generated a highly dynamic and engaging experience
The STORIES and EXPERIENCES of the musicians – inspiring, moving and unexpected – represent the foundation for a potential DOCU-FILM, with strong interest from participants.
The DOCU-FILM represents a natural next step of the project, and the NEB Prize would act as a key accelerator to initiate its production and expand its impact at European level.
KEY ELEMENTS
a) ORIGINAL productions
b) INTERCULTURAL encounters
c) LIVE EMOTIONAL experience transforming urban and cultural spaces into inclusive and identity-building places
d) FEMALE IDENTITY in music
The WOMA JAZZ model invited women musicians from different countries to meet, connect and create
ORIGINAL MUSICAL PROJECTS
STRONG INTERCULTURALITY among artists from diverse backgrounds and languages generated a highly dynamic and engaging experience
The STORIES and EXPERIENCES of the musicians – inspiring, moving and unexpected – represent the foundation for a potential DOCU-FILM, with strong interest from participants.
The DOCU-FILM represents a natural next step of the project, and the NEB Prize would act as a key accelerator to initiate its production and expand its impact at European level.
KEY ELEMENTS
a) WOMEN ON STAGE → EMPOWERMENT and gender rebalancing
b) INTERCULTURALITY → 100 WOMEN from diverse backgrounds
c) FREE CONCERTS → FULL ACCESSIBILITY
d) INCREASED FEMALE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
WOMA JAZZ, as an original and pioneering initiative, generated strong public appreciation and recognition
FREE CONCERTS reflect a clear cultural choice: removing economic barriers to ensure equal access to culture
Today, compared to 15 years ago, female participation in jazz events has significantly increased, with women now representing a large share of the audience
a) WOMEN ON STAGE → EMPOWERMENT and gender rebalancing
b) INTERCULTURALITY → 100 WOMEN from diverse backgrounds
c) FREE CONCERTS → FULL ACCESSIBILITY
d) INCREASED FEMALE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
WOMA JAZZ, as an original and pioneering initiative, generated strong public appreciation and recognition
FREE CONCERTS reflect a clear cultural choice: removing economic barriers to ensure equal access to culture
Today, compared to 15 years ago, female participation in jazz events has significantly increased, with women now representing a large share of the audience
KEY ELEMENTS
a) WOMEN MUSICIANS → CO-CREATION
b) PUBLIC → FREE ACCESS
c) COMMUNITY → LOCAL ENGAGEMENT
Strong CO-CREATION among musicians, who met, collaborated and developed ORIGINAL projects presented on stage at WOMA JAZZ
High PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, with active engagement through direct interaction, dialogue and the creation of a cultural community, consistently sold out
MODENA, FORMIGINE, PRATO, SALSOMAGGIORE TERME – 4 different cities that HOSTED and CO-FINANCED WOMA JAZZ
a) WOMEN MUSICIANS → CO-CREATION
b) PUBLIC → FREE ACCESS
c) COMMUNITY → LOCAL ENGAGEMENT
Strong CO-CREATION among musicians, who met, collaborated and developed ORIGINAL projects presented on stage at WOMA JAZZ
High PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, with active engagement through direct interaction, dialogue and the creation of a cultural community, consistently sold out
MODENA, FORMIGINE, PRATO, SALSOMAGGIORE TERME – 4 different cities that HOSTED and CO-FINANCED WOMA JAZZ
MULTILEVEL ECOSYSTEM
The project operates across multiple levels: local (hosting municipalities), national (institutional recognition), and European (artistic network and international collaborations)
KEY ELEMENTS
a) PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
b) SPONSORS
c) CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS (Luxembourg)
FREE ACCESS TO CULTURE is ensured through public support: 4 MUNICIPALITIES financed and hosted WOMA JAZZ
SPONSORS contributed by associating their name with a high-impact cultural initiative
The Italian Cultural Institute (ICC) in Luxembourg hosted a WOMA JAZZ event, strengthening the European dimension of the project
The project operates across multiple levels: local (hosting municipalities), national (institutional recognition), and European (artistic network and international collaborations)
KEY ELEMENTS
a) PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
b) SPONSORS
c) CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS (Luxembourg)
FREE ACCESS TO CULTURE is ensured through public support: 4 MUNICIPALITIES financed and hosted WOMA JAZZ
SPONSORS contributed by associating their name with a high-impact cultural initiative
The Italian Cultural Institute (ICC) in Luxembourg hosted a WOMA JAZZ event, strengthening the European dimension of the project
JAZZ AS A PARADIGM OF TRANSDISCIPLINARITY
KEY ELEMENTS
a) MUSIC
b) CULTURE
c) SOCIOLOGY (GENDER)
d) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
• MUSIC
WOMA JAZZ, through improvisation and dialogue among artists, creates an open space for CO-CREATION and continuous musical innovation
• CULTURE
WOMA JAZZ enhances diverse cultural identities, generating a shared language that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries
• SOCIOLOGY (GENDER)
WOMA JAZZ contributes to GENDER REBALANCING, making women musicians visible and central in the international scene
• INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
WOMA JAZZ connects artists, institutions and audiences across countries, generating long-term collaborative networks
KEY ELEMENTS
a) MUSIC
b) CULTURE
c) SOCIOLOGY (GENDER)
d) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
• MUSIC
WOMA JAZZ, through improvisation and dialogue among artists, creates an open space for CO-CREATION and continuous musical innovation
• CULTURE
WOMA JAZZ enhances diverse cultural identities, generating a shared language that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries
• SOCIOLOGY (GENDER)
WOMA JAZZ contributes to GENDER REBALANCING, making women musicians visible and central in the international scene
• INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
WOMA JAZZ connects artists, institutions and audiences across countries, generating long-term collaborative networks
The model generates INDIRECT RETURNS for hosting territories (cultural tourism, international visibility)
KEY ELEMENTS
a) HYBRID MODEL
b) FREE ACCESS = POLITICAL CHOICE
c) SPONSORS + PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
BONUS → DOCU-FILM as economic evolution
WOMA JAZZ adopts a HYBRID MODEL integrating public funding, private sponsorship and cultural partnerships
This approach ensures long-term ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, resource diversification and project RESILIENCE
FREE ACCESS represents a POLITICAL CHOICE oriented towards INCLUSION and CULTURAL PARTICIPATION
By removing economic barriers, the project expands its audience, generates SOCIAL IMPACT and promotes EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY is based on PUBLIC-PRIVATE collaboration
Public authorities ensure CONTINUITY, LEGITIMACY and alignment with cultural values, while sponsors contribute to visibility, innovation and development
BONUS – DOCU-FILM as economic evolution (SCALABILITY & IMPACT)
The DOCU-FILM is a natural evolution of the project, with the NEB Prize acting as a catalyst to activate its production and scale its impact
The docu-film represents a SCALABLE extension of the project
It activates NEW REVENUE STREAMS (distribution, festivals, digital platforms) and amplifies cultural impact at INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
It contributes to long-term SUSTAINABILITY and to the REPLICABILITY of the model
KEY ELEMENTS
a) HYBRID MODEL
b) FREE ACCESS = POLITICAL CHOICE
c) SPONSORS + PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
BONUS → DOCU-FILM as economic evolution
WOMA JAZZ adopts a HYBRID MODEL integrating public funding, private sponsorship and cultural partnerships
This approach ensures long-term ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, resource diversification and project RESILIENCE
FREE ACCESS represents a POLITICAL CHOICE oriented towards INCLUSION and CULTURAL PARTICIPATION
By removing economic barriers, the project expands its audience, generates SOCIAL IMPACT and promotes EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY is based on PUBLIC-PRIVATE collaboration
Public authorities ensure CONTINUITY, LEGITIMACY and alignment with cultural values, while sponsors contribute to visibility, innovation and development
BONUS – DOCU-FILM as economic evolution (SCALABILITY & IMPACT)
The DOCU-FILM is a natural evolution of the project, with the NEB Prize acting as a catalyst to activate its production and scale its impact
The docu-film represents a SCALABLE extension of the project
It activates NEW REVENUE STREAMS (distribution, festivals, digital platforms) and amplifies cultural impact at INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
It contributes to long-term SUSTAINABILITY and to the REPLICABILITY of the model
A REPLICABLE CULTURAL MODEL ACROSS EUROPE
The model can be transferred through operational guidelines, an active artistic network and a replicable format
KEY ELEMENTS
WOMA JAZZ is:
a) REPLICABLE
b) MODULAR
c) ADAPTABLE
WOMA JAZZ is a CULTURAL MODEL ready to be replicated and transferred across European contexts, based on a flexible and impact-oriented structure
a) REPLICABLE (REPLICABILITY)
The project is based on a clear and structured MODEL, built on transferable FORMAT, ORGANISATIONAL PROCESSES and PARTNERSHIPS
The combination of artistic quality and SOCIAL IMPACT makes WOMA JAZZ replicable across different territories while maintaining coherence and identity
NOTICE
The DOCU-FILM in project, is a natural evolution of the project, with the NEB Prize acting as a catalyst to activate its production and scale its impact
b) MODULAR (MODULARITY)
WOMA JAZZ is composed of independent modules (concerts, artist networking, cultural activities) that can be activated individually or combined
This MODULAR structure enables progressive SCALABILITY and adaptation to available resources, facilitating implementation in diverse contexts
c) ADAPTABLE (ADAPTABILITY)
The project is designed to be ADAPTABLE to different cultural, social and economic contexts
It maintains its core values (GENDER EQUALITY, INCLUSION, PARTICIPATION) while adapting content and operational methods to local specificities, ensuring IMPACT and SUSTAINABILITY
WOMA JAZZ anticipates current European priorities on gender equality in culture, positioning itself as an early prototype of inclusive cultural design
The model can be transferred through operational guidelines, an active artistic network and a replicable format
KEY ELEMENTS
WOMA JAZZ is:
a) REPLICABLE
b) MODULAR
c) ADAPTABLE
WOMA JAZZ is a CULTURAL MODEL ready to be replicated and transferred across European contexts, based on a flexible and impact-oriented structure
a) REPLICABLE (REPLICABILITY)
The project is based on a clear and structured MODEL, built on transferable FORMAT, ORGANISATIONAL PROCESSES and PARTNERSHIPS
The combination of artistic quality and SOCIAL IMPACT makes WOMA JAZZ replicable across different territories while maintaining coherence and identity
NOTICE
The DOCU-FILM in project, is a natural evolution of the project, with the NEB Prize acting as a catalyst to activate its production and scale its impact
b) MODULAR (MODULARITY)
WOMA JAZZ is composed of independent modules (concerts, artist networking, cultural activities) that can be activated individually or combined
This MODULAR structure enables progressive SCALABILITY and adaptation to available resources, facilitating implementation in diverse contexts
c) ADAPTABLE (ADAPTABILITY)
The project is designed to be ADAPTABLE to different cultural, social and economic contexts
It maintains its core values (GENDER EQUALITY, INCLUSION, PARTICIPATION) while adapting content and operational methods to local specificities, ensuring IMPACT and SUSTAINABILITY
WOMA JAZZ anticipates current European priorities on gender equality in culture, positioning itself as an early prototype of inclusive cultural design
