Amy Dall, Events Officer at the National Portrait Gallery, believes the Gallery's Rebel Women exhibition is a chance for clients to make a powerful statement.
At the National Portrait Gallery, we are marking the centenary of women gaining the right to vote in Britain with a year-long season of events titled Rebel Women. The season will reflect on the suffrage movement but will also focus on pioneering women throughout history, and on the contemporary relevance of active citizenship and the ongoing battle for equality.
As part of the Rebel Women season, we are showcasing a display entitled Votes for Women. This display commemorates the passing of the Representation of the People Act on 6 February 1918, which gave thousands of British women the right to vote in general elections. This was an important stepping stone towards ‘universal suffrage’ for both sexes, which was finally achieved a decade later. The Act was the culmination of a decades-long campaign and the portraits in this display represent some of the key figures involved in the struggle for political representation.
We are really excited about this season, as it offers our clients the chance to make a truly powerful statement. We recommend combining a private view of this display with a reception in the nearby Victorian Galleries to make a women’s event stand out from the rest. Our top tip to capture guests imaginations is to have guided tours of inspiring women of the Gallery’s Collection, led by one of the Gallery’s expert art historian – they will come away feeling amazed and informed, with the memory of the event at the forefront of their mind.
