Where are the Women?: Muralists receive £25K funding to empower young female artists

A project to create a new mural celebrating the work of London’s women mural artists has received £25,000 in funding.

The mural is part of a Clapham Film Unit Project, Where are the Women?, which received the money from the Mayor of London’s Untold Stories fund. 

Clapham Film Unit is a collective of filmmakers based in Clapham working to train and equip people in the community to tell their own stories on film.

The unit are working with emerging muralist, Mel Saggs, 34, from Banbury, who has started to work on the mural under her artist name, 7th Pencil.

The mural, which is currently a work in progress, is displayed on Transport for London’s (TfL) Clapham Deep Shelter, Clapham Road.

The artwork will be seen not only by those in the community, but also those travelling by bus or cycling along Cycleway 7 between Clapham North and Stockwell.

Ms Saggs said: “I ultimately live to brighten people’s days with mural art. Covering any boring wall I see with nature, inspiration and bright colours.

“I hope to empower young female artists by telling the story of past and present female London muralists.”

Clapham Film Unit will be documenting two free street art workshops for the community on May 8 at Clapham Deep Shelter, Clapham Road.

Film from the workshops will be used to make a short documentary on the mural.

The documentary will be a celebration of the work of London’s women mural artists, largely unknown and left out of history.

The £25,000 funding is part of the Mayor of London’s £1million Untold Stories programme to champion diversity in the capital’s public spaces and ensure London’s landmarks and monuments reflect the achievements of all who have contributed the city’s success.

The grants offer Londoners the opportunity to develop ideas and share their stories which will be represented within the public realm.

Dan Lovatt, director of asset management at TTL Properties Ltd – TfL’s commercial property company – said: “Art plays a huge part in London’s reputation as a global cultural hub and we’re pleased to be supporting this project.

“It will not only transform one of our deep shelters in Clapham into a vibrant piece of artwork for the local community to enjoy, but it will also celebrate the contribution of female artists to our city.”

Pictured top: 7th Pencil with her mural in Clapham (Picture: Andrea Seroni TFL)