Back in September community arts organisation, Aunty Social opened the We’re Sew Done exhibition at Blackpool Central Library highlighting street harassment and violence against women.
The project was a response to the disappearance and murder of Sarah Everard and the subsequent movement to ‘Reclaim the Streets’. Blackpool Social Club contributor Antonia Charlesworth wrote an article calling out to local women to share their experiences of street harassment on the Fylde Coast. It was this information provided the inspiration for Aunty Social’s textile group, Knittaz with Attitude, to create pieces for the exhibition.
We’re Sew Done can still be explored online, at a specially created website where you can see the powerful textile works and the stories that informed them. The project received many positive and emotional responses, receiving coverage from Big Issue North and the Arts Council.
The book
We’re Sew Done has already had a strong local impact – prompting further involvement in Blackpool Council’s Safer Streets initiative – but Aunty Social wants to continue to use the work to raise awareness and funds for local womens’ projects and organisations.
They plan to do this by creating a book of the exhibition. They currently have raised 90% of their fundraising target and are very grateful for all donations received so far. They are calling out for a further push on donations in the last week to help them reach their goal. This funding will help them pay for print costs, an ISBN number (so they can sell copies through bookshops) and design/layout work.
The legacy of this book will actively support women on the Fylde Coast as funds raised from sales will contribute towards local projects and organisations who do invaluable work supporting women experiencing issues such as domestic violence and mental health challenges.
Donate
It’s really easy to support this project, donations can be made via the Crowdfunder website, with rewards ranging from a thank you on the project website, to a copy of the book itself. The Crowdfunding campaign is due to end on 28 February 2022.
Please donate what you can to help this local community arts organisation create a permanent record of this thought-provoking project and actively make a difference to local women.
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