We’ve now reached the point where the project is complete; we have learned risograph skills, consulted with women artists, held workshops, gathered feedback and created a publication…but over the course of the project we experienced some shifting and expansion which means a less than exact finishing line.
While the publication is completed, we’ve been fortunate to continue developing the partnership with TOW. This lead to them offering us an ISBN number, which gives the publication an added level of credibility to others. We’re also discussing a formal launch event with TOW which – due to elections, festive seasons, and TOW being closed until late January – will take place after the formal ending of the project. We also (I told you we had been busy…) have a digital version of the publication, which will most likely be available via the TOW website in line with the launch.
We didn’t originally plan to push the publication this far, but the open structure of the bursary, and particularly being given the funds up front, meant we have been able to encompass ways of working that would in other circumstances constitute risk, or at the very least leave us out of pocket. This in turn gives us a level of visibility that is a great boost to the project as a whole, which would not have been possible without AN and TOW. Although the final report goes in to AN shortly, I hope to add a blog post detailing the launch. And if you’ve stuck with me, thank you for reading this far – but you really should read what our artist groups said as soon as we can make it available!
Final, final update! August 2020
The pandemic prevented a physical publication launch but with its increased resonance to the current creative environment we have released the digital version free, and in a range of more accessible formats. The limited edition publication is available to buy (if you know anyone with any money!).
Covid-19 collides with pre-existing inequalities so that different groups of women will be disproportionately impacted. The majority of artists and creatives were already living precariously with insecure income and low pay; the pandemic has increased this precarity. In an AN survey, 93% of respondents said that they, their practice or career had been affected by the pandemic, with 60% expecting a 50% reduction in income. Therefore womxn creatives are likely to be doubly affected.
You can buy or download the publication here.
