Pitch Your Project 2026: Supporting Women-Led Creative Projects in Southampton
Posted: 02/03/2026
On Friday 6 March, we welcomed audiences to God’s House Tower (GHT) to hear six community-focused, women-led projects from across Southampton pitch their ideas for a £2000 bursary and the opportunity to exhibit at GHT in 2027.
Visitors heard directly from the brilliant people behind creative community projects in the city and were able to vote for the project they’d most like to see receive the bursary and exhibition opportunity.
Click here to watch the Pitches
Please note: Voting is now closed. We will be revealing the winning project over on the ‘a space’ arts Youtube Channel
About the Projects
(extra)ordinary archives led by Lucie Smith and L.Gre
A community arts project amplifying the voices of ordinary womxn — a term that includes cisgender women, trans women, nonbinary people, and all who identify with womanhood — by connecting lived experiences with historical archives and contemporary creative practice. The project centres those whose stories are underrepresented in formal archives, including working-class womxn, womxn of the global majority, migrants, carers and elders. Through artist-led workshops in creative writing, sound recording, storytelling and assemblage, participants become archivists of their own lives, culminating in a publicly accessible, multi-sensory exhibition and creative archive.
Hands Create led by Vicky Barber-Crimes
Hands Create is a six‑month, Deaf‑led visual arts project bringing Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing women together through mindful, playful and creative workshops. Delivered in British Sign Language (BSL) with English interpretation, the project uses visual art to build understanding, confidence and connection across communication barriers. Each monthly session explores themes such as identity, emotion, culture and connection through a range of mediums including fluid art, mixed media, collage, clay, botanical and mini‑installations.
With no BSL‑accessible art courses currently available in Southampton, Hands Create offers vital creative wellbeing space, increases visibility for Deaf artists and strengthens community through shared, accessible creative expression.
Swimming community project led by Rachel Jones, Hampshire Open Water Swimmers and Itchen River Mental Health swim
This project centres on a women-led wild swimming community in Southampton, bringing together women of different ages who use cold-water swimming to support mental health, resilience and belonging. Participants include neurodivergent women and those navigating anxiety, low mood, ageing and life transitions. Through informal creative sessions, they will share stories, gestures and visual material inspired by water, breath and collective care.
These contributions will shape an immersive projection artwork at God’s House Tower, transforming the space with layered light and movement. The bursary will fund participant sessions, access, software, equipment, artist time and installation, creating a contemplative environment celebrating solidarity, shared strength and women’s lived experience.
How to Hear Yourself by Sara Borrington
How To Hear Yourself is a wellbeing-focused creative workshop series led by Southampton-based artist Sara Borrington (Sera Bless). Using deep listening, sound, rap, and reflective writing, participants explore their inner voice, build emotional connection, and develop confidence through accessible creative exercises. Piloted at MAST Mayflower Studios and due to be delivered at local community hubs as part of wellbeing days, the workshops are highly inclusive, require no prior experience or equipment, and provide a gentle, low-pressure environment for self-expression and personal growth.
Plait School led by Catherine Tarrant supported by Amy Scott-Pillow, Jo Fishcher and Nicky Anderson
In the 1800s gangs of girls roamed the streets plaiting straw, making more money than their entire household. This endangered social order and was negatively judged by many. Plait Schools were where young girls would learn the trade for the hat industry. Today, Straw Plaiting is a Critically Endangered Heritage Craft.
There will be:
- Plaiting workshops and creative sessions as a safe space for women.
- A Podcast with local creative women, teaching them to plait, discussing their work and interesting notes on the history of plaiting.
- A showcase displaying the community work and a recreation of a 1800s Plait School.
Women’s Soul Soup Collective led by Julia Hall
Whilst working in a local community centre, Julia has become acutely aware of the presence of women’s lived experiences, associated with feelings of disconnection, loneliness, isolation, and powerlessness.
The Women’s Soul Soup Collective would offer space for connection with self and others, through movement and dance workshops, with the aim to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, towards a sense of belonging. The workshops would be offered to women who use the services of the local foodbank and pantry, but could also include women who use the support facilities within the community centre.
The project would culminate with an exhibition of photo images and/or performance related to the journey and process of the workshops.