Projects

Beyond the Walls: Victoria's Early Female Refuges This project is to develop a travelling exhibition on Victoria's early female refuges. We would be interested in looking at or hearing about photographs (of matrons, people, committee women, babies), or items associated with early refuges. This exhibition will outline the unique history of female refuges. Early Female Refuges during the 19th and 20th centuries were places of exclusion and protection for single mothers. This project aims to make visible facets of social history relating to women and their sexuality. Collecting institutions have neglected the area of female refuges and their clients. This exhibition addresses the secrecy associated with these institutions and interprets items hitherto unknown or hidden, within collections. The project has four key areas: 1. Developing the exhibition concept and brief 2. Preparing the exhibition design and touring component 3. Researching and sourcing material for text panels 4. Writing a grant application A brief outline of the exhibition theme or story This exhibition will tell the story of female refuges in Victoria from 1850. Attitudes towards females and sexuality have changed over the past 150 years. This exhibition will highlight the functions, maintenance and organization of female refuges and particularly the people who controlled and serviced the refuges, single mothers and their babies. The anticipated outcomes of the project * To find neglected and hidden artifacts associated with female refuges, which do not appear to be in collections, & by uncovering them, highlight their value and interpret their uses. * To promote the collection, preservation and interpretation of items relating to this group. * To address a little-known aspect of Victoriaís social and cultural heritage. * To foster an understanding of a marginalized and stigmatized subgroup of women in society, * To educate and inform the community about this hidden facet of heritage. * To design this exhibition for easy travel & display, enabling touring to varied & diverse venues. * To develop the exhibition concept. * To enable a wide regional and interstate audience to experience the exhibition.