This year’s Suffrage 125 commemorations celebrate 125 years since NZ became the first country to grant women the right to vote. CTANZ is acknowledging this significant milestone with the theme of its 2018 symposium, Unbound: Liberating Women, to be held in Dunedin, not-entirely-coincidentally in September. The Call for Papers has just been posted, along with a Call for Exhibition Proposals for the exhibition at Open Polytechnic that opens alongside the symposium.
The symposium is just one of many events marking the year that are likely to interest CTANZ members, details of which are now becoming available through the Ministry for Women’s website. You might like to bookmark the page to keep up with additions during the year:
http://women.govt.nz/about/new-zealand-women/history/suffrage-125/events-celebrations
Events so far include
Museums Wellington is commissioning a contemporary artwork for their historic Board Room, envisaging a strong statement and juxtaposition to what is currently a very male dominated space. The medium is open, but “textile works will be strong contenders given the historic banners women have created together to promote their causes (think Suffrage or 1913 Waterfront Dispute)”.
http://www.museumswellington.org.nz/suffrage-125-contemporary-artwork-request-for-proposal/
Opening soon in Auckland, Te Kōpū at Māngere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku presents painting and weaving by Natasha Keating and Bethany Matai Edmunds.
https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/events/2018/01/te-kopu/
More events and exhibitions will be announced as the year progresses- expect lots going on in March for International Women’s Day. Various grapevines suggest several interesting individual projects for Suffrage 125 as well which we’d be delighted to share more widely. If you’re wondering if you have a personal connection to the petition, you can look up petition database here. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the UK is celebrating 100 years since the first British women gained the right to vote. Among their projects, a mass procession will feature 100 banners currently under development.
We’ll keep you posted on relevant events and exhibitions throughout the year. And of course, symposium updates as planning progresses.