Subversive Stitching: Textiles and banner-making in women’s activism
16 January 2025, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Discover the powerful history and significance of textile banners and their role in women’s activism with Carey Bennet and Cathy Dunbar, in this companion talk to our exhibition ‘Educating Cambridge’.
Carey Bennet and Cathy Dunbar will share about the making of banners by Cambridge women within the context of a UK wide project in 2018 to commemorate women’s suffrage. This project celebrated the use of banners by the suffragists and suffragettes of the 1900s, who marched to demand the vote for women. Over history, women have used their province of sewing and weaving to assert themselves in the face of inequality and misogyny. The talk will reference banner-making’s significance in campaigns within Trades Unions, the Peace Movement, wider feminist campaigns and climate activism. The textile banner has become widely used in recent campaigns, having the power to bring women together around commitment to a common cause.
About the Speakers
Carey Bennet lives and works locally as an art therapist in Cambridge, having had previous careers as an art teacher, researcher, education officer and children’ services manager. Carey employs fabrics and threads as a medium for her own imagery, and is interested in the historical use of textiles in women’s activism.
If you’re interested in Carey’s work, feel free to email her at careybennet@gmail.com.
Cathy Dunbar is a feminist artist and activist, mainly working collaboratively with other artists within the community. She is a founding member of Sew Angry, Mrs Fubbs, The Society of Xtras and The Freudian Slips. She has worked within the industry as a weaver, a machinist, a seamstress and a dressmaker at different times of her life. She uses used textiles as an art medium alongside other materials and is interested in textiles and threads as a medium and metaphor for the human condition.
Find out more about Cathy’s work via various channels:
Instagram: @cathydunbar54
Blog: cathydunbar.com
Website: mrsfubbsparlour.com
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Supporting the Museum of Cambridge
The Museum of Cambridge is an independent Charity and is not part of either the Cambridge Council or the University of Cambridge. We kindly suggest a donation of £7, which includes the talk and entry to the Museum of Cambridge (usually £6 for Adults, £4.50 for Students/Jobseekers). Your donation supports the daily running and conservation care of the Museum, an independent charity.
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Accessibility
You can also read about our accessibility information on our website. If you’d like to chat through any accessibility requirements, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01223 355159 or email sumyin.wong@museumofcambridge.org.uk. Event attendees with additional needs are welcome to bring a supporter or carer who will be admitted to the event free of charge.
Getting Here
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Photography
Please note that photographs will be taken throughout this event, and images may be used in future marketing and reporting materials. If you do not wish you or your family’s photograph to be taken, please make sure to let us know.
Healthy Events
If you’re feeling unwell or have recently tested positive for Covid-19, please do not attend this event. We’ll be happy to offer you a refund if applicable, and welcome you at the Museum on another day.
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