The Greater Manchester Rape Crisis Centre banner is the result of a collaboration between internationally acclaimed artist and photographer Ian Beesley and Greater Manchester Rape Crisis (GMRC), which provides vital services for women and girls throughout Greater Manchester, and beyond.
Its presence at People’s History Museum (PHM) will mark two significant dates as part of the international campaign 16 Days of Action for violence against women and girls. 25 November 2021 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and 10 December 2021 is Human Rights Day.
The banner was created during lockdown 2021 as a way for staff and women using the support centre to work together on a creative project. Having visited The Unfurlings exhibition at PHM, which Ian Beesley worked on with cartoonist Tony Husband and poet Ian McMillan, GMRC were inspired by the idea of using banners to creatively explore and articulate thoughts and ideas around the support needs of victims and survivors and how the work of GMRC supports those needs.
Olivia Haines who is studying illustration at York St Johns University was commissioned by the GMRC to create the drawings for the banner.