Art & Activism Lunch: Women Changing the World
On 26 May 2026, a small group gathered at the Nine in Brussels for a lunch that brought together art, activism, and the question of how the two can reinforce each other. The event was organised in collaboration with the TOOLS FOR LIFE Foundation and felt, throughout, like a conversation among people who genuinely care about these things.
The afternoon centred on the collaboration between Mosaics for Life and the Jagori Rural Charitable Trust in Dharamshala, India — a week-long mosaic workshop in which young women used artistic practice as a way into self-expression, self-esteem, and community. It’s a simple idea with real depth: that making something with your hands, together, can open up something larger.
Brussels-based mosaic artist Gala Greenwood spoke about her work with warmth and honesty, describing mosaic as “the art of long patience.” Her practice embraces what’s broken — fragments transformed into something whole, even beautiful. For her, the craft is never just aesthetic. It’s a space for dialogue, for healing, for being in relation with others.
Abha Bhaiya, co-founder of Jagori Rural and a feminist activist with nearly five decades of experience, brought a grounded, generous perspective. She spoke about what long-term grassroots work actually looks like: the importance of listening, of building trust slowly, of staying committed to communities even when change is hard to see. Her presence reminded everyone how much quiet, sustained effort goes into real social transformation. The conversations that followed were open and wide-ranging.
One thought, shared by a participant, stayed with the room:
Art and activism must be understood collectively — moving away from individualism and towards community.
It captured something that ran through the entire afternoon.
The TOOLS FOR LIFE Foundation works to create exactly these kinds of spaces — where creativity and solidarity aren't separate from each other, but part of the same impulse. This lunch was a good example of what that can look like in practice.
We would like to thank The Nine, Abha Bhaiya, and Gala Greenwood for their support.