Alfred Gillett Trust International Women’s Day Event Success
The Alfred Gillett Trust, a heritage charity based in Street, held a very successful 4-day celebration in honour of International Women’s Day on 8 March. Over 4 days, the Trust welcomed over 520 visitors to enjoy a range of free exhibitions, performances and activities to mark the 100-year-old global event aimed at celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The Alfred Gillett Trust is a heritage charity which preserves and promotes the cultural heritage of shoemaking, and cares for the historic collections of C & J Clark Ltd., and the Clark family which established the global shoemaking company. At the event, the archives were opened up to visitors, which highlighted the stories of six remarkable Street women who have influenced the pursuit for gender equality through their roles in the suffrage movement, the shoemaking industry and medicine.
Annie Clark for example, qualified as a doctor in 1878 at a time when women struggled to receive a higher education. Florrie Bond worked as a foreman in the Trimming Room at Clarks until her retirement in 1946, and Hilda Clark undertook important relief work during and after WWI, which included setting up a Maternity Hospital for refugees in France.
The Trust brought together local artists, women’s groups and performers to explore the role of women in today’s society and prompt all visitors to reflect on their own experiences and beliefs. This included a large-scale sound and light installation by Elena Hutchcroft and Karolina Nieduza, a photographic exhibition of Navajo grandmothers by Joseph Hunwick and a moving mixed-media installation by Charlotte Humpston reflecting on a mothers’ grief at losing her daughter.
On International Women’s Day, itself, the historic Grange came alive with the captivating voices of local choirs and performers, the Lonesome Doves, the Avalonian Free State Choir, Lily Anne and Leela Bunce. The final day of the exhibition saw a performance by Street Sings Choir and the Trust welcomed the Street Society who were serving refreshments and cakes.
The Trust would like to extend thanks to all the performers, artists and volunteers involved with the event, without whom the event would not have been the success it was.
The Trust will be hosting a regular series of FREE talks, seminars and workshops at the Grange over the coming year which will focus on the achievements and beliefs of some truly inspirational local women. The first talk by Kathy Jones, the Priestess of the Goddess, will be on Thursday 6 April on “Feminism, Goddess Spirituality and Motherworld”. Reserve your free place here.
Alfred Gillett Trust 