Looks like the mooted ‘Cannes Lioness’ award, the proposal from some DDB creatives in Oz to ‘change the conversation’ about sex in advertising, has met a grisly end already.
At the hands of those two fearsome other lionesses of the creative world, Make Love Not Porn’s Cindy Gallop (left) and Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg.
Instead there’s going to be a ‘Glass Lion: the lion for change,’ named after ‘glass ceilings’ presumably, to reward ‘outstanding efforts challenging gender bases.’ Entry fees will be re-invested in creating more gender-neutral communications, whatever they may be.
The new award has been devised in cahoots with Sandberg’s LeanIn.org. Sandberg says:”You can’t be what you can’t see and how we market to women is critically important. If our messages to women, and men, portray equality, we will help create a more equal world. LeanIn.Org is thrilled that Cannes Lions is making the Glass Lion a reality so we can all applaud advertising that is more representative of the world as it should be.”
Gallop, one of the founders of BBH New York and the president of the Glass Lion jury, says: “I couldn’t be more thrilled about the introduction of the Glass Lion, which demonstrates Cannes Lions’ commitment to ensuring that both our industry and the work we create not only more accurately reflects the world around us, but actively changes it for the better.”
The bad news (assuming the above is good news) is that entries have to be submitted between now and March 27, which doesn’t leave long for agencies and others to dust off their non-sexist oeuvre, assuming they have one. Points will count towards the agency, network and holding company gongs.
