Hamilton Advertiser

Brave stories

Hamilton exhibition focuses on sex workers

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An exhibition which shines a light into the hidden world of sex workers in Scotland opens at the Hamilton campus of the University of the West of Scotland next week.

The Inside Outside exhibition features art, photograph­y, video and audio installati­ons by women currently or previously involved in sex work and focuses on street prostituti­on, escorting, brothels and saunas.

It was co-ordinated by Linda Thompson from the Women’s Support Project on behalf of the Encompass Network, and opens on Tuesday, March 6.

Photograph­er Kathryn Rattray supported the women to take their own photograph­s which chronicled their background, journey in sex work and their struggle to break free from it.

Encompass, a network of Scottish agencies which works directly with those involved in the sex industry, initiated the exhibition in partnershi­p with the University of Strathclyd­e and the Equally Safe in Higher Education project.

Linda said: “This has been an incredible piece of work which highlights the reality of inside the sex industry, which many people don’t get the chance to hear about.

“The women were honest in telling their stories and we are privileged as outsiders to be allowed into their lives.

“These women have been and still are incredibly brave, having experience­d violence and abuse.”

She added: “They are also one of the most creative, insightful and warm groups of women I have ever been lucky enough to work with.”

Anni Donaldson, Equally Safe in Higher Education project lead, said: “Equally Safe in Higher Education at the University of Strathclyd­e is delighted to be co-hosting Inside Outside.

“The debates about prostituti­on are often polarised and we think it is vital that all voices are heard.

“The women who have created this powerful exhibition have some very important things to say.

“They have found artistic and creative ways to share with us the lived reality and personal consequenc­es of being involved in prostituti­on.”

Katie, one of the Inside Outside participan­ts has been very positive about her involvemen­t in this piece of work. She said: “I have learnt quite a lot about myself throughout the course of this project so far, which I didn’t expect to. I actually like taking pictures and editing.

“I’m stronger than I thought I was, after going over my story realising how much I have dealt with and overcome and to the fact I’m still here, I’m still standing, still doing something positive.

“I think the idea of getting women to tell their stories in such an individual way and using our minds to create something so beautiful that is going to reach so many people is amazing, and shows why we shouldn’t be ashamed of our stories- they’re our stories. They have made us who we are.”

North Lanarkshir­e Violence Against Women Working Group and South Lanarkshir­e Gender Based Violence Partnershi­p have supported the exhibition and helped bring it to Hamilton.

The exhibition will be free and open to the public at the university’s Caird Building on the afternoon of March 6 and 9am to 5pm on March 7.

 ??  ?? Prostituti­on The event will feature sex workers’stories
Prostituti­on The event will feature sex workers’stories

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