Small statues celebrate huge impact of women
THESE statues may be small, but the women they represent women who have had an enormous impact on Greater Manchester.
They celebrate women who make a difference; true inspirations.
Standing at a foot-tall, the sandstone figures are based on extraordinary female figures whose work excites, empowers and brings about change.
The work these women do, the difference they make, is what makes Greater Manchester great.
An illustrator, a doctor, an LGBT campaigner and the founder of a charity which supports young people have been immortalised – by a 3D printer.
It’s part of the Put Her Forward project, commissioned by Heritage Open Days – England’s biggest festival of culture and history – after a report revealed that of the 925 statues across the country, only 158 are of women.
Remove the mythical, royal and anonymous female figures from the list and just 25 statues remain.
The plan was to double that number as part of the project. In Greater Manchester, there are just two statues of women – Queen Victoria in Albert Square in the city centre and war-time entertainer Gracie Fields in her hometown of Rochdale.
A statue of Emmeline Pankhurst will soon grace St Peter’s Square, while comedian Victoria Wood will be commemorated in Bury.
People were asked to nominate inspirational women for the ‘Put Her Forward’ project.
Speaking about the project, Heritage Open Days national manager Annie Reilly said: “We are thrilled to have commissioned Put Her Forward, a project that pays tribute to the extraordinary range of women who are making a positive impact across our country, who are making our world better and fairer.”
Hundreds of nominations were gathered across the country, with 25 women chosen to be scanned and 3D printed by interactive art collective Non Zero One.
Four of those women were from Greater Manchester.
Three of the statues have been unveiled, with another to be put on display later this month. So who are they? Here are their stories... RUTH is an activist and a champion of young people’s rights. The 42-year-old moved to Manchester from Bradford to be a teacher.
A decade ago, Ruth founded RECLAIM, a pioneering youth leadership and social change organisation based in Manchester.
Her statue was unveiled outside the Royal Exchange on Friday.