Denmark to address gender disparity in art as Ministry of Culture allocates funds to erect more statues of women

Denmark is addressing a gender disparity in public art, with the Ministry of Culture announcing plans to allocate 50 million Danish kroner to rectify gender imbalance

Denmark is set to tackle a glaring gender disparity in its public art as the Ministry of Culture unveils plans to address the stark shortage of female statues across the nation, particularly in the capital city.

A recent revelation by the Danish government has shed light on a concerning statistic: less than 10 percent of statues in public spaces across Denmark depict women. This disparity becomes even more apparent in Copenhagen, where the capital boasts more statues of mythical creatures than of women.

Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt has responded decisively to this inequity, announcing a substantial allocation of funds totaling 50 million Danish kroner (£5.7m) aimed at rectifying the gender imbalance in public art and ensuring better representation of Danish women.

“The numbers almost speak for themselves,” remarked Engel-Schmidt, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Currently, out of 101 statues in Copenhagen, only five are dedicated to named women, while an overwhelming majority, totaling 70, commemorate men, leaving a mere 26 for animals. Engel-Schmidt decried this disparity, labeling it as “absolutely insane” and questioning whether it reflects the values the next generation should inherit.

“In Copenhagen, there are more statues of mythical creatures than women. Is this truly the legacy we want for future generations, especially considering the immense contributions women have made to our society?” Engel-Schmidt questioned.

To address this historical inequality in urban spaces, the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with a newly formed committee of experts, aims to identify women who have been overlooked in public art. This initiative seeks to provide inspiration for future projects aimed at rebalancing the representation of genders in public spaces.

Engel-Schmidt took to Twitter to solicit suggestions for statue proposals, urging the public to participate in this critical endeavor. He emphasized the importance of community input in identifying deserving women whose contributions merit commemoration.

“Will the next generation really grow up in cities with more statues of mythical beasts and horses than of women? No!” Engel-Schmidt declared, rallying support for the cause. “Therefore, I would like to ask a team of experts to point out exactly which women deserve to be redressed in the landscape. But please help with some input here. Who are we missing and where?”

Recent efforts to address this disparity have seen statues erected in memory of actress Betty Nansen and writer Lise Nørgaard, both of whom passed away in 2023. Looking ahead, the Culture Minister has proposed memorializing figures such as pastry chef Karen Volf, Nielsine Nielsen (Denmark’s first female physician), and Bodil Begtrup (the country’s first female ambassador) as potential candidates for recognition by the new committee.

Source: Independent