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Artwork will celebrate
political pioneer THE
life and legacy of 1 of Liverpool's greatest political figures is to be
celebrated in a public artwork.
Eleanor Rathbone was a tireless campaigner for women's rights and education,
and for social justice.
This year is the 70th Anniversary of her death and in a significant
contribution to the national:- "Remembering Eleanor Rathbone" campaign
and Liverpool City Council intends to commission an artwork which will be
located in the walled garden of Greenbank Park, formerly the estate of the
Rathbone family.
Artists are being invited to express an interest in this commission and it
is hoped to appoint the successful 1, by the beginning of March 2016,
finishing with the
artwork being in place by the end of 2016.
The artwork will cost about £10,000 and it is envisaged funding will be met
by a number of sources including public subscription.
Eleanor Rathbone (1872 to 1846) was born in Greenbank House, now part of the
Liverpool University estate, into a family with a tradition of political and
social campaigning in the City. Her father and grandfather were Liberal MPs
in the City.
Eleanor attended Oxford University but, as a woman, was not allowed to
graduate. She was the first woman to be elected to the City Council and
represented Granby from 1909 to 1934. In 1929 she was elected as an
independent MP for the Combined Universities seat, a position she held until
her death.
She was associated with many campaigns for women's rights and education, and
for social justice. She campaigned against child marriage and FGM in the
colonies, and later worked tirelessly to save Jewish and other refugees in
Europe.
Most notably, despite the opposition of many male MPs, she was responsible
for the introduction of family allowances (now child benefit) to be paid
directly to mothers.
Greenbank Councillor Laura Robertson- Collins said:- "As an
independent Councillor and later as an independent MP, Eleanor has lacked a
political party to champion her. We are proud of this campaigning Greenbank
resident, and are delighted to commemorate 70 years since her death by
commissioning an artwork in the park that was once part of her family's
estate."
Information about the commission is available
online.
An exhibition about Eleanor Rathbone is on display at the Central Library
until the end of March 2016. |
