STILL SHE RISE

COMMON WALLS FESTIVAL ROCHDALE

A heritage project by Cabasa CIC

In 2025 we worked with Rhian Kempadoo-Millar on our first mural exploring Women’s Unheard Stories around reproductive health care, inspired by women’s stories from across Greater Manchester we collected, including Seriously Crafty and Soul Sisters based in Rochdale. The project took place as part of Commons Walls Festival 2025 in Rochdale Town Centre, and was part of several new artworks painted in September 2025 in the town.

Lead Artists: Rhian Kempadoo-Millar, Lizzie Rigby, Emily Wood.

STORIES

We gathered stories in a number of ways.

We invited 10–20 women to help collect stories from women of different ages, races, and backgrounds in their lives. We wanted to reach an array of different women, they supported the project by starting meaningful conversations and gathering experiences — both positive and challenging — around access to reproductive health care.

Women also shared their own individual stories anonymously about their experiences of accessing reproductive healthcare in the UK.

We also visited communities and delivered workshops in-person, including Seriously Crafty and Soul Sisters based in Rochdale, which we’ve translated into beautiful designs.

The stories will also go towards helping us deliver even more arts projects around women's health and well-being, highlighting a need for this work to future funders too.