PROCESSIONS takes place this Sunday (10th June) across all four capital cities of the UK: Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London. Tens of thousands of women have already signed up to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime mass participation artwork, celebrating one hundred years since the first British women won the right to vote.
Produced by Artichoke and commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme for the First World War centenary, PROCESSIONS will unite women* and girls across the UK to form a living artwork, and a snapshot of life for women in the UK today.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop, said: “PROCESSIONS is a great opportunity to celebrate the centenary of some women getting the vote, an important milestone in our country’s history. As we mark this anniversary and while we have come a long way since 1918, this event also offers an occasion for us all to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that still lie ahead.
“Equality for women is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s vision for an equal Scotland and our Programme for Government set out our ambitions, including legislating for gender balance on public sector boards, creating a new Advisory Council on Women and Girls, and piloting a returners project to help women back in to the workplace after a career break.
“Our goal for all women and girls – in Scotland and around the world – is that they have a fair chance to succeed in life, no matter their gender.”
Helen Marriage, Director of Artichoke said: “As we countdown the final days until PROCESSIONS, the whole Artichoke team is delighted to have been able to bring to life this ambitious and audacious idea originally conceived of by Creative Director Darrell Vydelingum.
“I’d like to pay tribute to our commissioners 14-18 NOW and the many other supporters who have made this historic event possible. Most especially, I salute the thousands of women who have embraced the idea of PROCESSIONS and, following in the footsteps of their Suffragette and Suffragist ancestors, will create an unforgettable image that will commemorate 100 years of women voting in a joyful inclusive occupation of our city streets.”
Jenny Waldman, Director, 14-18 Now said: “The actions of women a hundred years ago during the First World War have paved the way for women today, and we are working with Artichoke to mark this landmark moment in women’s history.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support for PROCESSIONS, and I look forward to joining women on 10 June to be part of this powerful artwork, which explores what it means to be a woman in the UK today, our successes, and the challenges we still face.”
Start times and Assembly Points Edinburgh
PROCESSIONS Edinburgh: Participants are invited to gather at Middle Meadow Walk, The Meadows (EH3 8GE) from 12.15pm. The procession will start at approximately 2pm, the route is approximately 2.5 miles long and will finish at Queens Drive, Holyrood Park (EH8 8AZ).
* NB timings are subject to change and will depend on the number of people taking part
There is no need to register in advance – women and girls can simply meet at the designated assembly point and take part on Sunday 10 June.
On the Day:
Participants are invited to form up at the start locations of each city, from 12.15pm with the processions expected to start from 2pm and lasting approximately two hours. Each participant will be given a scarf to wear in one of the three suffragette colours – green, white and violet – and will then be choreographed to walk in bands of colour, so as to appear as a long unfurling striped suffragette banner.
Interspersed amongst each procession will be participants carrying handmade banners reflecting the concerns and issues that women face in the 21st century. Over the last few months, women’s groups across the UK have been paired with female and female-identifying artists for a series of creative workshops to create these extraordinary artworks. In addition, all participants and ambassadors were invited to make their own banners at home using a bespoke toolkit inspired by a 1909 guide created by suffragette artist Mary Lowndes.
PROCESSIONS will be broadcast live across BBC News and on BBC One in a national two-hour programme from 2-4pm Sunday 10th June that will span all four cities, presented by Kirsty Young from a London studio and correspondents on-the-ground in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh.
Enhancing the event atmosphere further will be bands and music along the route including Edinburgh Samba School, the Edinburgh women’s samba band Commotion and leading the Procession will be the Lord Provost’s official piper Louise Marshall.
In 1909 the Suffragettes marched along Princes Street led by female bagpipers and on Sunday we will honour this tradition. Also DJ, TV presenter and author Lauren Laverne has curated a playlist which will be broadcast on the PA systems along the route and near the assembly points of all four cities.
@processions2018 #PROCESSIONS2018 #PROCESSIONSEdinburgh @artichoketrust @1418NOW
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