WOMEN are still locked out of creative arts. The Director of Planning, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotions Jeanne Umulisa has noted.

At a brainstorming and lively debate titled Women and Arts held last week at Goethe-Institute in Kiyovu, Umulisa said it is time for women to discover that they can take a lead in the creative industry.

"Women involvement in art is still very low since they are generally more concerned with domestic duties and thus some of them don’t have time to fulfill their potential in art,” Umulisa said.

Umulisa observed that a number of women involved in art take it as just a hobby and not an employment opportunity. She called for sensitisation of women to pick interest in arts just like any other profession.

Hope Azeda, the director and founder of Mashirika Theatre Company said society should change the stereotype that women cannot make it in arts. 

"I’m a mother, a musician and an arts director and I manage to balance all these tasks very well,” Azeda said.

Tahiri Uwimbabazi, a film director noted that there are fewer actresses in Rwanda compared to actors. "This is a country that has made greater strides in women empowerment and development and this should also be seen in arts industry.”

She advised women to venture out and unleash their potential in creative arts.