54 Scene reaching out and becoming involved too.” Local residents may be familiar with the Survivors’ Network through the work it does for survivors of sexual abuse as the Rape Crisis Centre for Sussex. The charity aims to reduce sexual violence and its impact on survivors’ lives through counselling, advocacy, peer support and group work. The charity is currently fundraising to expand training and resources to offer education-based prevention as well as care for survivors after their experiences of sexual violence. The Brighton Girls exhibition hopes to raise awareness for the charity so that it can continue to do its much-needed work. Charities have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with Survivors’ Network saying that lockdown has made it harder for people to access the help and support that they desperately need.
BRIGHTON GIRLS
George Pizani chats to local artist Hannah Shillito, whose new exhibition will raise awareness of the Survivors’ Network ) The Brighton Girls exhibition is to open on
Saturday, May 22, showcasing a new series by local artist Hannah Shillito. The exhibition, which will feature drawings of 100 local women in seafront gallery Broken Arrowz, aims to raise awareness for the Survivors’ Network, a local charity providing support to survivors of sexual violence. Hannah launched her project with the hope of bringing some light to miserable lockdown life earlier this year. She credits reaching out over Facebook with enabling her to build a network of support and friendship through the gloomy winter lockdown. Hannah said: “I met the wonderful muses through the Brighton Girl Facebook page at the start of the last miserable lockdown when we were all feeling the grey January blues. I asked if anyone would be interested in being a muse and showcased
some examples of my art and the response was PHENOMENAL. I ended up drawing over 100 women – I had to stop at that as I wasn’t sleeping much!” Hannah describes a love for making her muses feel beautiful; each of her 100 drawings is unique and individual to its real-life counterpart. The project is firmly rooted in community; according to Hannah, this has had multiple benefits. “While we’ve been locked up in lockdown it has been hard to feel creatively inspired, and more than that it has been hard to feel like part of a community, “The Brighton Girl network has provided us with that and more, and I have made so many inspiring new friends as well as allowing my art to take off in ways that I never imagined – with a new gallery owner seeing my art and exhibiting it, and the charity Survivors’ Network
“I feel like I have built a network of fabulous people around me who are all cheering each other on and supporting each other through tough times, exciting times and anything in between” The chance to connect with so many women through art meant that the project was also an opportunity to share and relate. Hannah spoke of the personal value of the Brighton Girls exhibition. “I also had the pleasure of chatting to them and getting to know them and, in some cases, listening to very personal stories that I felt humbled to hear.” According to Hannah, the project’s focus is “art, community and a whole load of disco vibes”. On the topic of her eclectic and colourful influences, she said: “I have always been obsessed with Warhol for obvious reasons, I love Margo in Margate for her bold simplicity, Babak Ganjei for his tongue-in-cheek playful nature and lots of local Brighton artists like Haus of Lucy who is so smart and clever.” Her eye-catching artwork has already proven popular online, with both the women she has drawn and a wider audience. “The reaction to the drawings has gone beyond my wildest dreams,” she said. “I feel like I have built a network of fabulous people around me who are all cheering each other on and supporting each other through tough times, exciting times and anything in between.” Hannah’s Brighton Girls exhibition will take place with a private view and launch party at Broken Arrowz Gallery, 4 Madeira Drive, Brighton on Saturday, May 22 (date subject to change depending on lockdown legislation). Donations to Survivors’ Network will be encouraged, and prints and originals can be bought with a percentage going to the charity. There will be drinks, a raffle and entertainment from other Brighton Girls singers and artists. D For more info on Hannah Shillito, visit: www.facebook.com/hannahshillitoart/ D For more info on Survivors’ Network, visit: www.survivorsnetwork.org.uk
