Suffrage Atelier facts for kids
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The Suffrage Atelier was a group of artists in England. They worked together to help women get the right to vote. It was started in February 1909 by Laurence Housman, Clemence Housman, and Alfred Pearse. Clemence was a writer and artist. Her brother Laurence wrote fantasy stories.
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The Suffrage Atelier: Art for Votes
The Suffrage Atelier became a very important group for the women's vote movement. They welcomed women who were professional artists and writers. They also encouraged non-professional artists to share their work. The Atelier paid them a small part of any money made.
Their first public meeting was in London in February 1909. They called themselves an "Arts and Crafts Society." This group worked to help women gain the right to vote.
How the Atelier Started
The group is thought to have started after some artists worked together. They were part of the Kensington Branch of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). They created a special banner called From Prison to Citizenship. The Housman siblings designed this banner.
What They Created
The Suffrage Atelier held workshops for printmaking, banner-making, drawing, and stenciling. They also had art competitions. Their main goal was to make things that could be copied and shared quickly. They used block-printing, like woodcuts and linocuts, to respond to events.
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Clemence Housman was a respected member of the WSPU. Because of this, many of the Suffrage Atelier's artworks were sold in WSPU stores. They were also shared in national newspapers.
One of their first big requests was for art for a WSPU exhibition in 1909. The Atelier often worked with the Women's Freedom League. In December 1909, they made a banner for Glasgow called Let Glasgow Flourish. They made another banner for a different Glasgow branch.
They also designed a banner for the Tax Resistance League. This banner was carried in a parade on June 18, 1910. In another parade in June 1911, the group carried their own banner. It showed Athena, a goddess, with her symbols. These included an owl, an olive, a rooster, a snake, a sphinx, and a Medusa head.
Who Supported the Atelier?
The Suffrage Atelier had many supporters. This included both men and people who were not professional artists. Supporters were asked to submit art, poster designs, and craft work. They also gave donations. These supporters helped organize big events and art shows.
Images for kids
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Postcard by the Suffrage Atelier, showing a pot and kettle with human features.
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