One hundred women artists worked with organisations and communities across the UK to create one hundred centenary banners as part of an extensive public programme of creative workshops.

Throughout April, May and June, textile artist Karina Thompson worked with women and girls from across Bolsover to make a banner, representing the female voices of women from the district today. With Karina’s support and encouragement the participants agreed on a brilliant slogan, the perfect embodiment of soft power, Smile, It Confuses Your Enemy. Each participant embroidered and embellished a letter that was then appliquéd onto the digitally printed smiles of 100 women, chosen for their inspirational or life changing lives.

On Sunday the 10^th June 2018, after three months of hard work, we travelled to London from Bolsover with our banner, to join thousands of other women and girls from across the country to mark this historic moment and to create a living portrait of women in the 21^st century.

Wearing either green, white or violet sashes, the colours of the suffragette movement, the PROCESSION appeared as a flowing river of colour through the streets of London, beginning in Hyde Park and finishing at the Houses of Parliament.

Our banner was a real eye catcher and was photographed constantly throughout the day, and to our delight, was even captured on TV during the live broadcast on BBC 1!

To make the day an even better experience, we commissioned two other artists to join us in London. Mik Godley made drawings of the march on his ipad and Derbyshire Poet Laureate Cathy Grindrod soaked up the atmosphere and wrote a poem entitled Let it Roar! Each participant has also been presented with a copy of the poem and a print of one of Mik’s drawings, as a memento and legacy of a truly amazing day!

Case Study
After the project had finished we interviewed one of the participants, Janet Downing, who let us write up her experience as a case study. Here is what Janet had to say:

I wanted to take part in the PROCESSIONS project because I hoped it would be something for me to focus on as I was going through a bit of a bad time. I didn’t have any expectations really but I knew we were doing a craft and I like craft. There were some people I knew at the workshops so I felt comfortable. The group gelled and it was nice to have the Polish ladies join us. The project was for women only and if men had been involved we might have felt a bit intimidated, you feel freer with just women.

I loved sewing and had always been creative but had lost it.

I used to be a machinist but hadn’t sewn for 10 years or so and using the sewing machine brought back lots of memories for me. The hand sewing was very social and I enjoyed working together with the others; we helped each other and inspired each other. We worked both as a team and individually and we all felt proud and had a sense of achievement.

Jane was a good anchor for the project and we worked with a good artist, Karina. She didn’t have a ‘strong arm’ and was open to our suggestions; she was very easy to get along with. She also made me feel that my ideas were listened to.

In June, we went on a trip to London for the Processions march, I’d never done anything like that before. The weather was perfect. It was exciting, all the hustle and bustle and they’d even closed the streets. There were lots of cameras, so many people taking our photograph, it felt good to be acknowledged.

By the end of the project I definitely gained a better understanding of the suffrage movement. I could relate to the suffragettes struggle. I had a controlling husband and I broke away. I felt if they can, I can!

I remember thinking that while we were making friends and making our banner, hundreds of others were doing the same and having similar experiences. Women across the country were coming together, good on em! I knew we were part of making history and maybe we’ll be talked about in the future. It was especially nice for me because I was celebrating my freedom.

I think the touring exhibition is just mind blowing, all the work made by a group of girls!

“Beginning to end – enjoyment, sheer enjoyment. It was something to look forward to and the march in London was the icing on the cake.”

This project clearly illustrates just how successfully the arts and creativity can impact positively on everyday people’s lives. Coming together to work together, making friends in a safe and supportive environment, stretching boundaries to achieve a successful outcome and making lifelong memories along the way.

Here are just a few reflections and thoughts from our group about their experience of taking part ……..

“I loved the planning bit. And deciding the quote for the banner. Smile, it confuses your enemy. We voted for that. The wild card quote. We own it. I like to think I’d do that. I need to do it more. It gives you dignity. Yes. Gives you the power. On your own terms.”

“We each picked a letter to make – to do however we wanted.”

“I loved all those colours. Less isn’t more, Jane said.”

“I did the first S of Smile.”

“It wasn’t like school when you didn’t deserve a merit – no-one called it skewiff.”

“I was accepted. Encouraged. Set free to create.”

“We were all inspired by everyone else.”

“Poppy did the ‘M’ of ‘Smile’. Didn’t you Pops?
Poppy: “Yes and my favourite was cutting it out and the sequin machine.”

“We’re the official banner bearers for Derbyshire. Did you know?”

“We love our banner. It’s brilliant.”

“Exceeded our expectations.”

“It came from friendship, togetherness.” 

“And all from women coming together in Bolsover. Talking, making friends, that was the best bit. Getting involved, being part of it. We did it together. Made a future history.”

PROCESSIONS was produced by Artichoke, the UK’s largest producer of art in the public realm, as part of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme for the First World War centenary.