The Changemakers exhibition, which opened on the 21st of June 2022, explores the remarkable stories of activists and trailblazers from many walks of life, from Edna Ryan’s campaign for equal pay in 1974 to Nyadol Nyuon’s advocacy for refugee women today, to the incredible work of activists Ash Barty, Chanel Contos, Rosie Batty, Barbara Cummings, and Louisa Lawsone to name but a few.
Guest curated by award-winning journalist and gender equity advocate Virginia Haussegger, Changemakers gives a voice to the role women have played in Australia's democracy via a series of images, objects, and videos while leading visitors through themes of equality, financial independence, birth and care roles, the challenges of gender and race, and more. This collection includes a series of 16 textile banners created by artist Tal Fitzpatrick in collaboration with Kait James, Amy Claire Mills, Guy Ritani and Sofia Fitzpatrick.
Changemakers was opened with a Welcome to Country by Ngambri-Ngunnawal elder Matilda House and a video introduction by Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard that was then followed by a keynote presentation from Australia's fist female Governor General Dame Quentin Bryce and a Q&A session led by journalist Annabel Crabb that included: former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, journalist and exhibition creator Virginia Haussegger, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, historian Professor Marilyn Lake, NSW Young Liberal President Deyi Wu, NSW Greens Senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi and artists Dr Tal Fitzpatrick and Guy Ritani.
The exhibition will be open to the public until late 2024.
The 16 banners created for this exhibition have been acquired by the Museum of Australian Democracy and will remain in their permanent collection.
Kait James 2022 Always Was, Always Will Be
Kait James 2022 Because of Her, We Can
Amy Claire Mills 2022 Nothing About Us Without Us
Guy Ritani 2022 The Seas are Rising and So Are We
Socia Fitzpatrick 2022 #MeToo
Sofia Fitzpatrick and Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 I won't be quiet so you can be comfortable
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 A Woman's place is in the House and the Senate
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 Biology is not Destiny
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 End Gender Based Violence
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 Equal Pay, Education and Opportunity
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 Love Wins
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 My Body My Choice
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 Reclaim the Night
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 Serving the Country
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 Sisterhood is Powerful
Tal Fitzpatrick 2022 Votes for Women
TRAVELLING EXHIBITION DATES
In 2025, Changemakers: Crafting a Difference, an exhibition and workshop will travel to regional venues. Featuring 8 textile banners created by craftivist and artist Tal Fitzpatrick, it shows how crafting – traditionally considered 'women's work' – can be used for political expression and social change.
2025 TOUR DATES:
13 January to 18 February 2025: Max Webber Library, NSW
4 March to 18 April 2025: Queen Victoria Women's Centre, VIC
17 May to 27 July 2025: Western Plains Cultural Centre, NSW
8 August to 12 October 2025: Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, VIC
31 October to 31 December 2025: Townsville City Libraries – Riverway Library, QLD
2024 TOUR DATES:
10 April to 26 May 2024: Wanneroo Library & Cultural Centre, Perth WA 14 June to 4 August 2024: Museum of the Riverina Wagga Wagga, NSW
8 August to 29 Sept 2024: Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub, NSW
16 Oct to 8 Dec 2024: Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, VIC
Changemakers: Crafting a difference is the touring component of the Changemakers exhibition, sponsored by Commonwealth Bank, currently on display at MoAD at Old Parliament House in Canberra. The touring exhibition is travelling to suburban and regional locations across the country.
The touring exhibition showcases a range of textile banners created by craftivist and artist Dr Tal Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has used embroidery, quilting and applique techniques to create textile banners that explore challenging issues, attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate unequal power relations, including financial abuse.
“Craft is a fundamentally human technology, one that has been with us since the dawn of civilisation and has helped us transform the world around us,” she said.
“Textiles are a kind of universal language, warm and familiar, which can open up soft spaces for hard conversations. The handcrafted banners I created for this exhibition highlight some really challenging issues that we, as a society, need to talk more about. These include housing insecurity, the unequal distribution of domestic labour, gender-based violence and financial abuse.”
The travelling exhibition invites audiences to explore the power of craftivism, a global movement that combines craft with activism. Craftivists challenge clichéd notions of needlecraft and ‘women’s work’ to create platforms for advocacy: raising awareness, sparking discussion and uniting community. The exhibition is activated through programming where visitors are invited to share ideas and create their own banner.
MoAD Director Stephanie Bull said MoAD is delighted to partner with the Commonwealth Bank and share with regional audiences this thought-provoking exhibition. “This exhibition provides a perfect opportunity to encourage all people to consider their part in creating communities of change. When we foster a respectful society, we build a brighter future,” she said.
Commonwealth Bank Group Executive Human Resources, Sian Lewis said: “We know workplaces have an important role to play in improving gender equality and creating an inclusive society. We are committed to helping end financial abuse through CommBank Next Chapter - a program helping victim survivors of financial abuse achieve long-term financial independence. Our sponsorship of Changemakers: Crafting a differencetouring exhibition is one example of how we are continuing to shine a light on this important issue and let people know support is available – regardless of who they bank with.”
Changemakers: Crafting a difference is the touring component of the Changemakers exhibition on display at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra. The exhibition features objects and stories from pivotal Australian women who have changed our society, for example, Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG and Rosie Battie AO. It also includes banners crafted by artists including Tal Fitzpatrick. Both the onsite and touring exhibitions are sponsored by Commonwealth Bank.
In 2023 Tal was commissioned to create a further 6 banners that will tour nationally throughout 2024-2025 with support from the Commonwealth Bank. The exhibition is designed to promotes discussion, debate and change on the subject of gender based inequality and will include local workshops at each location.
The exhibition was first installed at the Commbank corporate office in Sydney in December 2023. As part of this installation Tal led a two day drop-in participatory banner making activity that invited Commbank employees to contribute to the creation of a banner that reads 'Help End Financial Abuse' - as part of this project participants engaged in conversation with the artist and MoAD staff about the interrelated issues of gender based violence and financial abuse. This banner will remain with Commbank.
