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'Exciting' exhibition to feature North Highland banner art celebrating women's right to vote


By Niall Harkiss

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An "exciting" exhibition of textile banner art made by women from across the Highlands will take place in Inverness next month.

Throughout March, the Stalls Gallery at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness will host "Highland Women Making History" – an exhibition of textile banners made in and by communities of women across the North Highlands, as part of a major UK-wide collaborative art project led by Artichoke Art, London.

Young and senior members of North Coast Women attended the processions march in Edinburgh.
Young and senior members of North Coast Women attended the processions march in Edinburgh.

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The banners were commissioned to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of women's right to vote and to reflect on the issues important to them.

Highland artists Chris Hammacott, Alicia Hendrick, Christina Inkster, Lizzie McDougall, Deidre Nelson, Kirsty O’Conner, Alex Patience and Heidi Soos were commissioned to work with women to create banners illustrating important to women everywhere, as well as to individuals and communities.

Women representing areas such as the north coast of Sutherland and Caithness, Isle of Mull, Isle of Lewis, Ross-shire’s east and west coasts, Inverness, the Uists and Shetland, have all participated in the project.

The techniques used to make them are as varied as the brief given to the artists – ‘to work incommunicado’ – ensuring each one is made in a unique style.

North Coast women taking part in processions on Princes Street in Edinburgh.
North Coast women taking part in processions on Princes Street in Edinburgh.

Organisers say the textiles will give voice to many stories as a "unique" celebration of women living in the Highlands and Islands today.

A spokesperson said: "The banners were originally made for ‘ Processions’, which was a mass participatory artwork created by leading arts events company Artichoke to celebrate 100 years of women's suffrage.

"Artichoke Arts then commissioned 100 women artists around the UK to create banners as an expression of gratitude to the women who worked to get women the vote.

"Tens of thousands of women took part in events, including Processions in all four UK capital cities in 2018 and an exhibition of all 100 banners in London. There was to be a UK tour, but this was cancelled due to Covid, so we are delighted that Eden Court has offered to display the Highland Processions banners in March."

To accompany the 2018 banners, women from across the region have been working to create individual pieces of textile art on the theme of women’s empowerment, which will be included in the exhibition.

North Coast Women banner
North Coast Women banner

During the run of the exhibition, Eden Court’s Jim Love Studio will be the venue for a special event for International Women’s Day, Friday March 8 at 4pm, exploring some of the ongoing challenges women face and celebrating the impact women have in making make the world a better place.

Many of the banner artists will also be on hand to tell the stories depicted in the artworks.

The event will also include performances by Liza Mullholland and Myra Ross and some of the participants, complemented by an exhibition from Fairtrade Ullapool, showcasing projects that empower women internationally

This is a unique opportunity to enjoy this inspiring and extraordinary collaboration of women so visit the exhibition between March 3-17 and attend the free event on March 8.


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