For International Women’s Day in 2023, we ran bunting workshops with the Trailblazers, a group that formed after the result of the Pankhurst statue appointment in St Peter’s square.
There were originally 6 trailblazing women shortlisted to be the statue – but Pankhurst won (because women are apparently only allowed one statue….). So the group formed to spread the word about the other trailblazing women of Manchester.
The other trailblazing women were Louise Da-Cocodia, Ellen Wilkinson, Elizabeth Gaskell, Margaret Ashton and Elizabeth Raffald.
The workshops took place at Gaskell House (Elizabeth Gaskell’s home in Longsight) to create bunting that represented these women, and also the history, culture and important women of Manchester and beyond.
Participants used reclaimed fabrics to make the pennants.
Using embroidery, applique, and other textile techniques to create a beautiful collage of women.
Although we only ran two sessions, we were able to set them up with the skills, materials and bunting plan to continue meeting to finish the bunting ready for International Women’s Day at mcr central library where they gave a talk on the women and their group.
After International Women’s Day they exhibited the bunting at Ascension Church, and it’s great that more people have been able to see the bunting and learn about women’s history.
The group continued meeting every Thursday at Station South in Levenshulme to finish the bunting ready to be exhibited on IWD at Manchester Central Library, where they gave a talk on the women and their group.
