‘First in the Fight’ exhibition at Kampus

The Project

A poignant, open-air exhibition paying tribute to the women who shaped Manchester’s history opened at KAMPUS on International Women’s Day 2022. The exhibition had been curated by Women in Print and author Helen Antrobus and featured 10 pieces of art depicting 10 different women who were shortlisted to have a statue built in the city.

Louise Da Cocodia by Ellie Thomas

Background

Following the unveiling of the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in Manchester’s St Peter’s Square in 2018, Helen Antrobus co-authored the ‘First In The Fight’ book to tell the stories of the 19 other incredible women who’d been shortlisted by the public for the statue. The book featured 20 illustrations by Women in Print artists.

The Gallery Garden at KAMPUS

The Exhibition

The exhibition at KAMPUS was free for the public to attend, with original art nestled among the lush garden opposite Canal Street. To mark Women’s History Month (March) visitors were encouraged to celebrate a woman in their life by emblazoning the garden with ribbons in the colours of the suffragettes – white for purity, purple for dignity and green for hope.

Getting back to art

After a difficult couple of years for those in the arts and the general anxiety of ‘getting back to normal’ following the COVID-19 global pandemic, an open air exhibition was very well received by the public. Women in Print and KAMPUS received plenty of positive feedback from those who attended the exhibition, with people citing the joy of being able to experience art in real life again.

Lydia Becker by Maisy Summer