Hope: The LEGO Suffragette is visiting The University of Warwick from 10 February until 28 February 2025.
The life-sized statue, made from an impressive 32,327 LEGO bricks, was originally created in 2018 and exhibited in the House of Commons to mark 100 years since (some) women got the right to vote. Her visit to Warwick coincides with the University's 60th Anniversary and commemorates 75 years since the election of the first female MP for Coventry, Elaine Burton.
As part of her stay in the Faculty of Arts building the History Department will be hosting a series of events raising awareness of local Votes for Women campaign stories and sparking diverse conversations about women's voting and equal rights in Britain and across the globe today.
Dr Tara Morton, Project Co-ordinator LEGO Suffragette 2025 at The University of Warwick said: "Hope's stay at Warwick enables the university to share and celebrate with local communities the fascinating stories of those who fought for women's right to vote across the region in the past and be inspired by those who continue to campaign for gender and other forms of equality around the world today."
On 12 February pupils from Southfield Primary School and Earlsdon Primary School in Coventry spent the day at The University of Warwick joining in with a range of fun Suffragette themed activities. The pupils got to see, and be inspired by, Hope for themselves, as well as having the opportunity to get involved with banner making, canvas bag printing, a VR museum experience and drama workshop. 13 February will see GCSE and A Level pupils visit from West Coventry Academy.
Hope will also provide the inspiration for Speakers Saturday, hosted by the Department of History on Saturday 22 February. The speakers will take attendees on a journey from the early twentieth century women's suffrage campaign in Warwickshire (Prof. Sarah Richardson, University of Glasgow); to newly discovered archives for Coventry's first female MP, Elaine Burton, 75 years since her 1950 election (Senior Archivist UK Parliament, Mari Takayanagi).
Expect talks on driving change for women's equality and empowerment through education and technology, looking to the future (Dr Shweta Singh, University of Warwick) and reflections on women in politics and Q&A with keynote speaker Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South, a passionate advocate for social justice, climate action, and gender equality.
