On Sunday 10th of June, women and girls in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London will walk together as part of this celebratory mass participation artwork. Wearing green, white or violet, the colours of the suffrage movement, the PROCESSIONS will appear as a flowing river of colour through the city streets.
One hundred women artists have been commissioned to work with organisations and communities across the UK to create one hundred centenary banners for PROCESSIONS as part of an extensive public programme of creative workshops. Shetland Arts are working with local artist Christina Inkster on a series of public workshops during April and May to create our centenary banner celebrating Shetland women.
Christina Inkster says “I am honoured to be lead artist on behalf of Shetland Arts for ‘PROCESSIONS’. In 2016 14-18 NOW commissioned the ground-breaking male performance piece ‘We’re Here Because We’re Here’ in 2016 that Shetland participated in. 14-18 NOW bring the women* within our community (*those who identify as women or non-binary) the chance to take part in their very own illustrious project. We have a unique array of women* within this community; within our isles; and I look forward to collaborating with them, celebrating who we are, and creating an artwork for our identity as the women* of Shetland to be voiced through. Our banner will be showcased in mass procession in Edinburgh alongside the other women and their banners from the communities throughout Scotland. What an incredible project to be part of.”
Claire Byers, Interim Director, Arts and Engagement, Creative Scotland said: “We are delighted to support the Scottish programme of PROCESSIONS, a project of great historic significance and social impact. In echoing the practices of the women’s suffrage campaign, the collective banner-making workshops and procession have the power to serve as a live portrait of modern women, and a visual expression of equality, diversity, and inclusion in contemporary Scotland. The programme will also provide a long-lasting creative legacy for the participating women, girls and communities.”
Workshop sessions will be held in Mareel Auditorium on Monday 2nd April (12pm - 2pm), Sunday 8th April (1pm - 3pm), Sunday 15th April (1pm - 3pm), Saturday 21st April (1pm - 3pm), Wednesday 9th May (7pm - 9pm). Other sessions to be confirmed.
Please see the Shetland Arts website https://www.shetlandarts.org/our-work/projects/processions or get in touch with Christina Inkster at [email protected] for more information.
