YOU HEARD US ART PROJECT FEATURES JUST A BALL GAME? FOUNDER.
LGBT+ campaign organisation JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) are excited to announce that founder Lindsay has been featured in the YOU HEARD US art installations in Bradford. The project created by Luca Rutherford in partnership with Theatre in the Mill and Bradford University, uses images of women who either live, work or who were born/brought up in Bradford, on billboards created from portraits taken by local photographer Nudrat Afza.
“You Heard Us is a public photography project celebrating women taking up public space,” says Rutherford. “When I say women I mean anyone who identifies with woman/womanhood some or all of the time. It has been an absolute joy to work with everyone, and I am so proud of the team.”
All photography is by Nudrat Afza and the graphic design by Sally Poore. The You Heard Us installations have been made possible with support from Theatre in the Mill, Bradford Council, ARC Stockton, Cambridge Junction, The Albany, and Arts Council England.
The portraits have been made in collaboration with Asma, Samia, Dionne, Jenny, Sonia K, Sharena, Sharleen, Lua, Sonia, Surinder, Bal, and Lindsay.
Rutherford continues, “Each one of the women participants has been nominated by local ambassadors who were asked to nominate brilliant women in their area that they felt should be honoured.”
You Heard Us is up around Bradford University campus as of August and will stay in place until early next year (2023).
Recently elected co-chair of JBG? Steven Grocock had this to say, “The beautiful portraits of the women displayed across buildings by Nudrat Afaz show the strength and diversity of the women of Bradford.”
“You Heard Us, does an amazing visual appreciation highlighting the power and strength of those women from the city regardless of colour, religion, sexuality or abilities.”
Lindsay, a lifelong Bradford City fan (the image was taken at Wembley during the playoffs final in 2017) says “It was a little strange being asked permission to have your portrait used on a 3 meter billboard in the city centre, but I’m warming to the idea.” Continuing with, “All of the images showcase women who refuse to stay quiet and act as a reminder not to underestimate us.” “Too often in today’s world, being portrayed as a feminist can be seen as a negative when sadly people think all equalities and equal rights have been won and with this key messages and achievements can be lost. The ‘You Heard Us’ art works showcase dignity and strength to the featured women and bring them into a correct perspective.”
Lindsay’s quote that features along with the photography is:
“Today’s LGBT+ inclusion and visibility is tomorrow’s LGBT+ history.”
Founder-Lindsay England