Reclaim the Agenda

The banner was created through a series of workshops and conversations around women’s historic struggle for equality over many years spent campaigning, protesting, lobbying, organising public meetings, rallies and strikes, and even enduring prison sentences, to win the right to vote. Inspired by their ‘Suffragette sisters’, the group continues to protest and lobby for equality. They intend this banner to be a protest to communicate their desire for improved childcare, reproductive health rights, and marriage equality, and to reflect their energy and determination in campaigning. The group intend their banner to show clearly that they are not stopping until they get what they want.

“Being part of something that is so creative and so widespread, it’s been emotional discussing the past and how we are still so far from equality, that I feel positive to be included.”
Workshop participant

“Every now and then as an artist you get an opportunity to work in collaboration with a significant and progressive organisation like Reclaim the Agenda. It was a pleasure to meet all the different women they represent and make visual the campaigns and ideas of a broad range of voices. The banner incorporates a number of important symbols, the red umbrella for Sex Workers, the yellow rose for the Ulster Rugby Rape Trail and the purple star for Reclaim the Night. We wanted to represent women of all ages, abilities and identities while keeping the iconic Belfast Feminist Banner as reminder of the history of Women’s activism locally. The banner is a call to action: a rally cry; a shout out for change.”
Deirdre Mc Kenna, the artist

Reclaim the Agenda is a collective of women from women's centres and organisations: Feminist groups, Youth, LGBT+ and Trade Unions. They campaign on six key themes; To live free from poverty. To live free from discrimination. To have healthcare services that meet their particular needs. To live a life free from domestic, sexual violence and abuse. To live in a society where women are equally represented as decision makers. To have access to good, affordable and flexible childcare provision.
https://www.communityni.org/organisation/reclaim-agenda-0

Deirdre McKenna is originally from Dublin and lives in Belfast. She studied BA Fine Art at the University of Ulster & Institute for Technology Sligo & Kaohsiung, Taiwan.