New murals call out harassment against women

Two murals have been installed on the former Bank of England building next to Castle Park.

The new murals feature glow-in-the-dark messaging highlighting the issue of harassment to women in the city’s night time economy.

The murals were installed by Bristol Nights and curated in a collaborative effort by three Bristol artists and Upfest, and are designed to send a powerful message of Bristol’s zero tolerance stance to harassment towards women.

One of the murals, ‘It’s Not OK’, by artist Emily Joy Rich, was influenced by the messaging of Bristol Nights’ most recent campaign, in which posters across Bristol feature the message: ‘If It’s Unwanted, It’s Not Okay.’

The UV mural has been painted over the top of artists Hazard One and Oli T’s mural ‘I’m Every Woman’ – photo: Paul Box

Using UV lighting, the mural reveals all the behaviours that are not acceptable if uninvited, as highlighted by women in Bristol during the research phase of the landmark project.

The second mural, which many may have spotted before, takes up three huge walls of the old bank building. ‘I’m Every Woman’ was painted by Bristol artists HazardOne and Oli T.

The mural, entitled ‘I’m Every Woman’, will now reveal that 97% of women have experienced sexual harassment, when lit by UV lights at night-time.

The wording on the mural reflects Oli T’s pop-art disco style, while the centre piece, made up of the faces of many women, is painted by prolific Bristol female artist HazardOne.

HazardOne highlighted the benefits of street art as a way to “take up space” and communicate “loud and clear messages”.

Speaking about the decision to take over the disused Bank of England building, Bristol’s night-time economy advisor Carly Heath explained: “By taking over an iconic building on the edge of Castle Park, the murals are a clear symbol of our city’s stance against harassment but are also a physical representation of the action being taken to create safer areas for Bristol.

From left to right – Nicola Beech, Ellie King, Marti Burgess and Carly Heath in front of the new mural – photo: Paul Box

“We have included hidden glow-in-the-dark messages which bring the murals to life at night, to send a message at that critical time that if it’s not wanted, then it’s not OK.

“This part of the city has previously been highlighted as somewhere people wanted to feel safer, so this project brings the best of nightlife to a huge thoroughfare that connects one part of the city to the other.

“It’s a big statement about how Bristol cares about everyone who has to access the night.

“We’re inviting bystanders to call out unwanted behaviour, while empowering those working in the night-time economy to recognise and execute a zero-tolerance response to harassment in their venues and workplaces.”

“We’re inviting bystanders to call out unwanted behaviour” said Carly Heath – photo: Paul Box

The murals are part of a wider city campaign launching Bristol’s Women’s Safety Charter and a comprehensive awareness campaign in response to a recent survey which found that 100% of women in Bristol have experienced sexual harassment in some form.

This is the first time the building has been painted, with the support of Bristol City Council and MEPC Limited. Funding for the campaign was provided through a successful bid for £282,000 from the Home Office’s Safety of Women and Night Fund.

Main photo: Colin Moody

Read more: New Bristol Nights campaign to take stand against harassment 

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