Did you know less than 5% of statues in the UK represent women! We want to change that, with not one but two statues of women.
In 2016 Caroline Criado-Perez researched how many statues were of women out of the 826 across the UK and commented “That leaves us with 25 statues of historical, non-royal women (one of whom is a ghost and only there because she’s looking for the spirit of her murdered husband). Meanwhile, there are 43 statues of men called John.”
Through collaborating with the black-led community group the Legacy Makers, we have been questioning who is and who should be remembered. While also being aware that less than 5% of statues in the UK portray non-royal women.
2024 will see a life-size bronze statue representing a white mill worker/lace maker, and a black enslaved woman uprooted to the Americas, installed in the heart of the rejuvenated Broadmarsh area in Nottingham City Centre. The sculpture will be complemented with a resource pack to encourage further learning and conversations.
This ambitious project, exhibitions and new sculpture will give representation to the under-represented and give voice and recognition to the contributions of thousands of unnamed women connected through cotton and helps to ‘challenge the 5%’.