Street Fairy Project

'A symbol for the belief in change'

The Street Fairy symbolises the power women can manifest together, to make change happen, so all women and girls today do not have to suffer from the fear and abuse felt while walking the streets where they live, and beyond.

The Street Fairy Project focuses on nurturing and empowering women who are experiencing, or wanting to take action on and become united in, issues related to their rights to be safe in public spaces.  Through engagement in arts activity, sharing and creating together in safe spaces, we aim to find ways to support, nurture, educate and empower women including every culture and backgroud.

Explore how through conviction and taking positive action, it is possible to turn fear into empowerment, spin negative energy into resiliance, reposition suffering and repression into well-being and freedom.

The project's focus is on gifting individials opportunities to engage with the arts as a pathway to sharing combined voices to greater audiences. Advocating the need for powerful men to support women's journey to feeling and being safe and protected.

A brief history of the Street Fairy

 

'When Stephanie heard about the murder of Sarah Everard, she decided she had to take action. Here, she writes about her powerful street fairies campaign, which has inspired dialogue up and down the country' Small but powerful, Grout Magazine 2021(British Association for Modern Mosaic, BAMM)

The Street Fairy Project was a response to the rape and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 by a Met Police Officer. Zara Leena, sexually assaulted and murdered by a repeated offender out of prison on licence, in 2022. These tragic deaths of these women ‘just walking home’ highlight the evidence of systemic failure in ensuring that women and girls have their right to be safe in public spaces.

Over 800 fairies have been created by many of the 'global womenhood' of Newport,  many fathers, brothers and sons supporting their unity through open participation. Included in the 'flutter, frolic or court' of these fairy’s many created were sent to women beyond our rivers and oceans. Each fairy is archived in scrolls of rubbings that capture the essence of each voice or sentiment.  .

 

I walked the length of Newport observing and placing these fairy’s in places I new, I and others had I been unsafe. I posted my walk thoughts and actions on social media. 

 

Many women, fathers and husbands requested a #streetfairy.

 

'While making these fairies, I felt I was in conversation or responding with those individuals who have been in unsafe situations or felt unsafe, myself included. I posed each winged character carefully - either offering flowers as a gesture of care, suggesting the enchantment of wellbeing or offering a hand of support, pathway to freedom. '

 

Personal stories of incidents were shared with me, seemingly as an open opportunity to obtain "permission to address", to share their personal moments of fear. The Street Fairies seemingly became symbols of empowerment for women, "street guardians" with each individual using them as a catalyst to start to heal or psychologically change the energy of spaces. 

 

“The fairies gave women a sense of positive action by ”revisit(ing) and alter(ing) the space”.  Memories were being challenged and confronted.

 

The Street Fairy's innocent visual appearance, have allowed women to reclaim a childlike, honest approach to a fearful subject, that allows to reclaim a part of themselves or place.

 

Women were transferring a conceptualised power onto them, fairies contain a historical sense of mischief and magical powers combined, we see maybe why the Street Fairy's are so enchanting and engaging as an image.

 

They have been a great reminder of the power of street art - making connection and being together in the moment of creating together.

 

Celebrating a perfect partnership

The Street Fairy Project is now delighted to be working together in partnership with Homewards Newport, through The Royal Foundation and Women of Newport, together we are aiming to engage with women to  the right to feel safe on our streets. Feel confident, safe, from to become  lives of those experiencing  in Newport. The partnership with a enable a greater reach into communities of women and involve a wider audience. 

 

Homewards

Homewards has one goal: to demonstrate that it’s possible to end homelessness – making it rare, brief and unrepeated.

Launched in June 2023 by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Homewards aim is for the Homewards locations to be on a path towards ending homelessness for good.

 

Active supporters 

The Riverfront Theatre and Art Centre - Workshops @The Big Splash 2025

Women of Newport  Associated support 2025

 

 'I really applaud your efforts to make a safer community / world for women as we know it’s a Global issue, and awareness is key to change. I would love one of your fairies.'

“from little seeds big acorns grow “ Sue, California