Film telling story of local hero wins national acclaim

TRIUMPH FOR KIAROS WOMEN+

A project which saw ordinary women+ learn about the extraordinary achievements of their Paisley predecessors has received nationwide acclaim.

Kairos Women+, which produced an animation about a female Paisley activist in the 1900s, was this week honoured for its work at the Smiley Charity Film Awards in London.

The women’s group – which offers an inclusive space for woman and nonbinary people – had produced the short animation in partnership with filmmakers Media Co-op and staff from OneRen as part of an initiative with Paisley Museum.

It saw the group research and tell the story of Molly Mercer, a Paisley-based co-op activist and women’s rights campaigner who fought for equality in the early 1900s.

The two-minute film, which will be part of a display in the new museum, picked up bronze in the People’s Choice category at a red-carpet event at the Odeon in London’s Leicester Square.

Annie Tothill, project manager at Kairos Women+, said: “We’re so chuffed to have won this award. We put a callout to our community for anyone interested in coproducing a story for the museum project.

“A dedicated team of volunteers formed, developing research and storytelling skills, uncovering the story of Molly Mercer and the Scottish Cooperative Women’s Guild, and using their creativity to write text for the objects chosen for display and to produce a stop-motion animation as part of the exhibition.

“These were a group of ordinary women+ from Renfrewshire learning and sharing the lives of ordinary women+ involved in campaigning for social change 100 years ago!”

The £45 million refurbishment of Paisley Museum is Scotland’s biggest cultural heritage project.

The team behind the refurbishment is committed to building a world-class museum, which reflects and is inspired by today’s communities. Part of that work includes the co-production of story displays with various community groups based in Paisley, Renfrewshire and further beyond.

Molly Mercer joined the Scottish Cooperative Women’s Guild and fought for better working conditions, education, housing rights and votes for women. They organised and recruited hundreds of women to the cause, affecting real changes. Annie added: “As it says in the film, Molly Mercer teaches us that when you stand up for what you believe in, you can make a difference. Her story and the story of the guild gives us hope and encourages us to never stop fighting for equality for all women+.”

Lucinda Broadbent, from Media Co-op, added: “We hugely enjoyed working with

KairosWomen+. We were blown away by the creativity and vividness of their ideas for both the script and the visuals of their animation.

“The dedication and determination of the women and non-binary people who take part in Kairos Women+ activities is outstanding. We are moved and inspired to see first-hand how principles of coproduction and inclusivity are fully put into practice in everything they do.

She added: “Molly Mercer’s story is entirely relevant to audiences today.

“Women campaigners today build on the foundations of women’s past struggles. The Kairos group put it best in the script of their animation, by saying ‘what we’ve learned from history is that when we work together, we can make a difference’.”

Paul Cameron, digital and new media manager at OneRen, said he was “thrilled” the animation has been recognised and the inclusive and partnership approached adopted by the museum celebrated on the national stage. He said: “The film is testament to that commitment to coproduction and inclusivity and we’re delighted that the wider public voted to endorse that.

“I’m grateful to all of the OneRen team who were involved and, of course, chuffed for Media Co-op and the outstanding volunteers and staff at Kairos Women+.”

The team was congratulated on this success by Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Renfrewshire Council’s cultural spokesperson and chair of OneRen.

She said: “I’m delighted to see such fantastic recognition for KairosWomen+ and for the work that we are doing to create inspiring, co-produced displays for the refurbished Museum – and it’s great to see this being celebrated already.”