The digital platform
The digital exhibition needed careful consideration - how could we communicate the power of photography and weaving that were fundamental to the physical exhibition in a digital form?
In total, it showcased over 50 stories of maritime women - ropemakers, captains, the first female engineers, nurses and beyond – encompassing both historical and contemporary inspirational stories of women’s lives and careers. It was important that the stories we collected lived beyond London International Shipping Week and complemented the women and their portraits.
Each photograph was accompanied by a QR code, allowing the photographs to remain impactful in physical form and the women’s stories to instead take centre stage, digitally.
Another powerful digital element was our use of videography. We projected a compilation of short snippets of the women blinking into the camera onto the walls of the International Maritime Organization - a clever way to bring the women to life away from static portraiture. People could look into their eyes and reflect on their careers and the barriers they face and question the future of women in maritime. The videography provoked reflection and confronted people with the idea that women have and will continue to provide meaningful contributions to the maritime industry. Our hope was that through various forms, both physical and digital, the initiative could help provoke conversations and turn the tide in having a more balanced, inclusive and diverse workforce in maritime.
Internationalisation
In 2024, we plan to expand the initiative globally, collecting stories of women in maritime historically and photographing women who hold a variety of different roles in the commercial maritime space today.
For those in the cultural heritage sector wanting to acknowledge and highlight women’s history in their own collections, collectively we must acknowledge and understand that women aren’t just ‘found’ in the archive. It requires searching for, looking behind the men’s stories, and sometimes the absence of women is in fact the story to tell.
Find out more
We are looking to expand the Rewriting Women into Maritime initiative internationally, and expand our partnerships and collaboration opportunities. Explore the digital exhibition and partnership opportunities here.
You can also explore Women's History on Europeana.eu.