Voices raised for women’s safety

CHAMPIONING and celebrating women while advocating for their safety, the youth-led Raise Your Voice art exhibition is on display at the Unicorn Lane outdoor gallery.

The visual showcase exists to publicly spotlight, challenge, and condemn misogyny, gender-based discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and assault.

Project leader Brodie Kamp said eight artists are exhibiting as part of Raise Your Voice, which officially launched with live music and speeches late last month.

“I always wanted this to be an in-person show so people could really see the work, interact with it and have those important conversations, which is hard to do online… with quality and algorithms,” he said.

“At Unicorn Lane, it’s out here for everyone to see and people can have a read through the information we’ve provided.

“Women’s rights are so important to talk about. Society has ignored the problem, which has led to the state we’re in now.”

In recent years, Karissa Cribbes has harnessed her origami skills to draw attention to domestic violence, and some of her creations have been presented on Unicorn Lane.

“One woman a week dies because of domestic violence, so I’ve represented that in paper cranes. Seeing it is different to hearing it,” she said.

“A lot of gender-based violence happens in close quarters, so having it visible and out in the open in this way helps people understand it and take it seriously.

“It’s being called out here. You can’t hide from it. Having the opportunity to see and hear stories of these experiences, from young artists, should be something that’s normalised.”

Visitors to Raise Your Voice can also scan a QR code to watch a Building Safer Communities film youth equality advocates created in their work with Women’s Health Grampians.

If the exhibition’s themes are distressing to you, contact 1800 Respect, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or CASA on 1800 806 292.