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Campaign group Our Bodies Our Streets, founded by students in ��«Ӱҵ and which aims to tackle the issue of catcalling and street harassment, recently unveiled a public art installation at the Ponderosa, only to see it destroyed a matter of weeks later.

Funded by and in collaboration with the University’s Department of Landscape Architecture, the installation was part of a campaign to help make public spaces feel safer. Made up of a hexagonal wooden structure, laser cut with poems from women in ��«Ӱҵ based on their experiences of street harassment. It also featured an engraving of the campaigners’ , a map of locations in the city where victims have experienced catcalling and street harassment.

However, sadly, just a few weeks after it was unveiled, the installation was burned down in an apparent arson attack. A statement from the group said:

“As a team, we are deeply disappointed given the hours of work and effort put into this piece of work, but also all those whose words and experiences were displayed on the sculpture.

“It was a passion project and to have our work taken from us is hurtful.”

And while the Police investigate the crime, the students in the group are using it as the impetus to redouble their efforts around this vital cause. They have also started a to support future activities and artworks.

“We are taking this attack on our work as a prompt to fight back and not be silenced.

“We know that eventually, equality and respect for all people will prevail over violence and abuse, and so we will keep fighting for good with even more conviction than before.”

Speaking at the unveiling of the installation, Emma Beaumont, Our Bodies Our Streets campaigner and Landscape Architecture student, said:

“We should all be able to enjoy the city’s public spaces without fear of being harassed. Now more than ever, we understand how important being in green spaces is to our emotional and physical wellbeing. ��«Ӱҵ is the ‘outdoor city’ and takes pride in its many wonderful green spaces -  but we’ve got to make sure that all its residents can access and spend time in these.

“Unfortunately, we know that women and girls are the most likely to experience street harassment, and this is an intersectional issue with women of colour and members of the LGBTQ+ community facing additional fears. Our campaign focuses on promoting interventions to actively make spaces feel safer, which might include increasing visibility using specific tones or types of lighting, or using uplighting instead of floodlights.

“The beauty of public art is that it can send such a powerful message to so many people. We’re delighted to have this piece installed at such a prominent location in the city, and hope that it helps spread the message of how important it is that the women of ��«Ӱҵ feel safe outdoors.”

Dr Anna Jorgensen, Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of ��«Ӱҵ said:

“Public art can fulfil many different functions, it can be commemorative, inspiring, thought provoking and challenging. The Our Bodies Our Streets installation absolutely achieves what it sets out to do, which is to get people to think about safety in public spaces - whether it chimes with those who have had similar experiences, or challenges people to think differently.

“The installation itself takes up physical space and asserts its right to be there. It’s a tangible representation of how we want women to be able to feel in public spaces.”

We’re delighted to be able to support this project, which has shown how brilliantly our students can be inspired to take their knowledge, research and inspiration into the community to help improve the world we live in.”

Dr Anna Jorgensen

Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture

Our Bodies Our Streets is a local campaign founded by students in ��«Ӱҵ. The campaign focuses on ensuring all the city’s residents have the confidence to use its public spaces without fear, and promotes implementing interventions such as better lighting and better visibility throughout the city. The campaign also focuses on wider societal education which challenges the everyday culture of harassment rooted in misogyny, ableism and racism.