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Exhibition

WONDER WOMEN

FROM LEFT: swimmer Beth French, Colonel Lucy Giles, and beatboxer Bellatrix

Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) is re-opening on 24 October with a big cause of cheer and a whopping great big exhibition called 100 First Women Portraits, a photographic celebration of 100 trailblazing 21st Century women, by South West photographer Anita Corbin.

The collection sees a culmination of Anita’s 10-year personal quest to create an inspiring visual archive of modern women who have achieed rsts in their eld, oten in maledominated professions and environments.

The eclectic bunch includes two-time Booker winner Dame Hilary Mantel who lives in Budleigh Salterton; Devon’s Baroness Elizabeth utler-loss, the rst woman to be ord ustice o ppeal eter-born ellatri, the rst female world champion beatboxer; Edith Kent, the rst woman to gain eual pay in and newscaster and Morecambe and Wise star-turn, Angela Rippon.

“My vision was to create an impressive visual archive documenting female ability and achievement to celebrate the impact women have had over the last 100 years,” says Anita.

“In a long history dominated by men, First Women UK asks, ‘What is it about women that can inspire you?’ These powerful portraits are intended to provoke people to look beyond the exterior image and contemplate the essence of the woman herself.

“I hope this exhibition will motivate, encourage and empower women and men across all ages and backgrounds and help them see that it is possible to break down barriers – whether gender, social, economic, cultural or political – to unlock their full potential.”

To celebrate the exhibition and RAMM’s re-opening, the venue will also be organising a number of online events including ‘An Audience with Anita Corbin’. For more: www.rammuseum.org.uk

Helen and her running companion Toby

Charity

RUNNING HEROES Exeter residents are hitting the pavements with gusto, taking part in running events around the city – all in the name of charity.

First up is Team Hospiscare who are completing a marathon over the course of the month of October to raise money for their care services. Although they can’t participate together, the team of seven have enlisted family members (including two dogs) to take on the challenge with them.

“I signed up to Hospiscare’s Marathon in a Month because I wanted to do something to support our charity in a way that is really achievable for someone like myself,” says Helen Ashton. lsewhere arie uckeld rom T The elt akers, on ore treet successully ran the ondon arathon in eter or the Exeter CITY Community Trust, the charity arm of Exeter City Football Club. Through the power of sport, education and physical activity, the charity provides opportunities for all people to improve physical and emotional wellbeing. ur ery own columnist organ also ran the ondon arathon in Exeter, see page nine for his vivid memories from the day. For more: www.hospiscare.co.uk/www.exetercct.org

FROM LEFT: NHS workers Bernadette and JP will be in the book; artist Amelia Webster

Art

WORKERS OF ART A Devon artist’s portrait of NHS heroes is to feature in a new book honouring the keyworkers of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The work by Chudleigh-based artist Amelia Webster was chosen for inclusion in the book Portraits for NHS Heroes, to be published on 12 November, the proceeds of which will go to NHS charities.

The concept for the book came out of a project initiated during lockdown by artist Tom Croft, a former contestant – like Amelia – in TV’s Portrait Artist of the Year competition. His idea was for artists to gift a portrait to an NHS worker who had put their own life on the line to keep others safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I am super proud to have my portrait of Bernadette and JP included alongside the wonderful images of NHS workers chosen for the new book,” says Amelia.

“It was an absolute honour to paint Bernadette and JP. What struck me was their positivity in this whole situation.” For more: www.ameliawebsterart.com

The Cathedral is looking to adapt for 2021

Heritage

CULTURE IN THE CITY Exeter Cathedral is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receie a nancial boost , grant rom the rst round o the goernments ulture Recovery Fund for Heritage. The funds will be used to stabilise nances through the winter months, as well as invest in adapting to the new landscape of coronavirus restrictions, making Exeter Cathedral better equipped to meet the needs of the community in the future.

“We have been looking at all the things we can do to improe and adapt or , says the athedrals director of development, Jill Taylor.

“Our goal is to be able to better engage the community o eon through this dicult period, while also being able to support ourseles nancially.

As part of this same recovery fund, Exeter Phoenix has been awarded , , which will go towards ensuring the venue can continue bringing world class theatre, gigs, art, cinema and more to the city. This grant will also help protect Exeter Phoenix’s charitable activities, enabling the provision of support and opportunities for artists, free access to contemporary art exhibitions, free creative activity for young people in the region, and a commitment to providing access to the arts for all. For more: www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/www.exeterphoenix.org.uk