Calico, the award-winning arts and activism organisation co-founded by Daz Scott and Martha Harrison, are on a mission to tackle gender-based violence and spiking culture through creativity, expanding their impactful campaign work across Birmingham.
“This funding will bolster our mission to use creativity to drive social change and to foster a culture of respect, empathy, and empowerment,” says Daz Scott, co-founder of Calico.
Calico first rose to national attention in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard, after the London Metropolitan Police controversially suggested that Sarah “shouldn’t have submitted” to a false arrest and advised women to be more “streetwise.” Outraged by this victim-blaming narrative, Daz and Martha took action.
Their debut short film, Curfew, asked a powerful question: “What would you do if men had a curfew?” The film captured real, raw responses from their peers. From running with headphones on to walking through a park after dark, the film spotlighted everyday freedoms denied to women. These moments were then brought to life in public spaces around Birmingham through large-scale projection displays.
With this new funding, Calico will further their grassroots initiatives that challenge gender norms, raise awareness about spiking and gender-based violence, and inspire change through bold, creative storytelling.
