Safer Spaces at Strawberries & Creem Festival
Over the weekend, I was invited as an artist by UN Women UK to experience Strawberries & Creem. With an inclusive, female led line-up, Strawberries & Creem is the first ‘Safe Spaces Now’ Festival committed to making safer spaces for women and marginalised groups.
This summer, a recent BBC study uncovered that only one in ten headliners at the UK's top music festivals will be women, revealing an overall trend that reflects the structural issues within the music industry. In an age where festival line-ups are still dominated by male artists, the demand for safe spaces for women and marginalised people in the music scene is pertinent. Strawberries & Creem’s partnership with UN Women UK is a leading example of women and marginalised communities initiating action.
When I arrived, it was a chilled Sunday- there were free shuttle buses to take you to and from the festival, ensuring transport and a familiar sense of community when arriving and leaving the site.
You would have spotted the #SafeSpacesNow tent in The Orchard - it was a vibe, and a safe space to relax and connect with other festival goers. If you found yourself needing a moment away from the crowds, this space was there for you to enjoy moments alone, to create some art, to get your nails done, and to even get some glitter sprinkled! Trust me - I’m still finding bits of sparkle in my hair.
There were powerful pieces of artworks on the walls of the tent, all re-imagining a safer reality for women and marginalised people. These original pieces were commissioned during the COVID lockdowns, and held space for voices of protest that bravely speak out against injustice, and explore ways in which we can keep moving towards inclusive spaces for all. This exhibition is still available to view in a virtual gallery here.
In the tent, there was also a portrait series created by Cheer Up Luv - these portraits openly captured people who have experienced harassment in public spaces. By revisiting these places and sharing their stories, we witnessed people re-claiming their narratives and taking back a sense of control and agency. These portraits were placed around a mirror, and were so powerful to reflect on.
On the other side of the tent, I loved reading people's thoughts on dating and being in public spaces in general: ‘What would make you feel safer?’ It was interesting to listen to other people and artists, and their stories of being in live music scenes. It’s uplifting to feel seen and heard by others who share similar experiences.
There were safe spaces all around the festival to relax and to feel good to dance freely. I’m grateful for the Safe Spaces Now initiative, as everyone that I spoke to over the weekend mentioned how open and free they felt. I’m excited for more and more festivals and live music venues to make safer spaces a priority. We all deserve to feel safe in public spaces - especially when music is at the centre. Thank you UN Women UK and Strawberries & Creem for having me!
If you also want to experience Safer Spaces Now - please take 2 minutes to sign an open letter created by UN Women UK. Join artists like me, Mabel, Anne Marie, Ellie Goulding, MNEK and more as we create a more inclusive, diverse and safer music industry for all.
