Nottingham, 6 February 2025
A powerful new sculpture celebrating the often-overlooked contributions of women in the textile trade has been unveiled this week at Nottingham’s Green Heart. Titled Standing In This Place, the life-sized bronze artwork was created by sculptor Rachel Carter in collaboration with community history group Legacy Makers. The piece captures the shared experiences of two women: an enslaved Black woman working in the American cotton fields and a white textile mill worker from the East Midlands.
Commissioned by the National Justice Museum, this ground-breaking civic artwork is the first of its kind in the UK and has been made possible thanks to over £250,000 in generous donations. Nottingham City Council has provided a permanent home for the sculpture in the city’s newly developed Green Heart.
The project has been supported by a wide range of donors, including Art Fund, Sir Harry Djanogly CBE, Nottingham Regeneration Limited Trust, Nottingham Civic Society, Gedling Borough Council, Wilmott Dixon Construction Ltd, T. Bailey Asset Management, RL Management Ltd, Hallam Agency, Townshend Landscape Architects, and Framework Knitters Guild, alongside many public donors.
Honouring History and Addressing Representation
Fewer than 5% of Britain’s statues represent non-royal women, and Standing In This Place addresses this imbalance by recognising the resilience and labour of working-class women in the cotton and lace industries, which played a pivotal role in Nottingham’s industrial history.
The bronze sculpture was cast at the renowned Pangolin Editions foundry in Stroud, known for working with leading artists such as Jonathan Yeo, David Bailey, and Damien Hirst. The unveiling ceremony, held at lunchtime on 6 February, was attended by city officials, local dignitaries, and representatives from the National Justice Museum.
A Lasting Legacy for Nottingham
The National Justice Museum will act as the custodian of the sculpture—the first piece of public art acquired by the museum. The artwork serves as a significant addition to Nottingham’s cultural landscape, offering visitors and residents an opportunity to engage with the city’s rich heritage in a thought-provoking way
Sculptor Rachel Carter and the Legacy Makers group have worked extensively to uncover and share the hidden histories of women in the textile industry, linking local stories to the wider global narrative of forced labour and industrialisation.
Bev Baker, Senior Curator and Archivist for the National Justice Museum, emphasised the importance of the sculpture:
“We are extremely grateful for the support from donors towards making this unique public sculpture a reality.
“The National Justice Museum represents justice in all spheres of life, so this is especially meaningful at a time when there has been divisive reaction to public sculpture associated with the history of the transatlantic trade of enslaved people.
“We have a collection and heritage site that is designed to challenge these narratives, so it is essential that such a powerful and evocative piece of work is displayed in a public space to raise awareness and draw in discussions on the history of enslavement, both historical and contemporary.”
Visitors to Nottingham are encouraged to explore the Green Heart and experience Standing In This Place, a striking and meaningful tribute to the resilience and impact of women in history.
Find out more about the project on the Standing in this place website
Posted on 10 February 2025
