Elevating and empowering women has long been a part of MECCA's continuing mission to achieve gender equality across all arenas.
In partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria, we are championing the creative women changing the design world through the Women in Design Commission - a major ongoing series that invites internationally renowned female designers and architects to create new and important work for the NGV Collection.
Over five years, a commissioned designer will be revealed annually at an event coinciding with International Women's Day on March 8, with the final work unveiled towards the end of the year. Our partnership with the NGV - the first and only of its kind in Australia - will culminate in a major exhibition to showcase the five bodies of work and amplify the ways in which female designers are shaping our world.
The announcement was made today by MECCA's founder and co-CEO, Jo Horgan, at an event in celebration of International Women's Day, with trailblazing Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao named as the inaugural commission. Her large-scale installation, to be unveiled later this year, will combine textures and architectural structure with a focus on community, sustainability and ethics.
As one of the few sole female-led architectural practices operating at a global scale, Bilbao's appointment highlights the positive impact of female architects on the profession and will no doubt encourage more women to pursue careers in her field.
As one of the few sole female-led architectural practices operating at a global scale, Bilbao's appointment highlights the positive impact of female architects on the profession and will no doubt encourage more women to pursue careers in her field. Commenting on the announcement, Horgan said: "At the heart of MECCA is our striving to empower women and girls through our M-POWER program to achieve gender equality, whether it be art, design, or education.
"We have had such wonderful moments with the NGV through our long partnership, and I am so incredibly thrilled that it has culminated in this MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission so that we can spotlight the creative minds of women in the design space."
Horgan also acknowledged the extraordinary calibre of female talent MECCA has had the opportunity to work with as part of our ongoing partnership with the NGV, noting it is "truly so special" to collaborate with a global innovator such as Tatiana Bilbao.
The five-year partnership is supported by a seven-figure commitment from MECCA Brands through our philanthropic program, M-POWER, which champions and elevates women to advance gender equality.
Over the past six years, MECCA and the NGV have partnered to address the gender imbalance within the design industry, working with female artists on exceptional projects including our annual Holiday campaign. These artists include Naomi Hobson, Louise Zhang, Tammy Kanat, Claudia Moodoonuthi, Atong Atem, Rebecca Baumann and Tanya Schultz.
