Feminist Spatial Practices

This is an independently-organized project that is fiscally sponsored by The Architectural League of New York. 100% of funds raised will go towards the creation of the Feminist Spatial Practices online platform and community programming. Donations are tax-deductible and receipts will be automatically provided by GoFundMe.

Feminist Spatial Practices is a participatory online platform that celebrates practices in art, design, architecture, and activism that work towards intersectional gender equity in the built environment. The platform is an educational resource and a medium for community-building, offering an interactive, online index of global feminist practices as well as virtual and in-person events.

Urgency

Gender inequity has persisted for far too long in the fields of art, architecture, urban design, and urban planning, and it's time for change. Our project is dedicated to amplifying the voices and efforts of women, non-binary individuals, and trans people in these fields, creating spaces that truly reflect the needs of all. Feminist spatial practices foreground overlooked lived experiences and forms of spatial knowledge and offer modes of practice that are collaborative, equitable, and sustainable, both for the practitioners themselves and for their communities.

Goals

The Feminist Spatial Practices project is more than just an idea – it's a participatory online platform and a supportive community. Our goals are clear:

Knowledge Sharing: We're building an online platform that will be a hub of information, showcasing the histories and methodologies of feminist spatial practices. With interactive visualizations and a comprehensive searchable index, we're making sure that this wealth of knowledge is accessible to all.

Empowerment and Community: We are creating a vibrant community of feminist practitioners who uplift and empower one another. Through virtual and in-person programming, we're fostering connections and expanding awareness about gender issues in the built environment.

Our History

This project emerged from a research and visualization project by Bryony Roberts and Abriannah Aiken, co-founders of this project, which was commissioned by e-flux and the Jencks Foundation and published on the e-flux online journal. Their initial publication included 550 entries of feminist practices.

After an open call for participation in March 2023, the response has been nothing short of inspiring. Over 50 individuals from all corners of the globe have come together to bring this project to life. Our members collaborate in different working groups to help plan and grow the web platform, its content, and our community programming.

Our Current Activities and Timeline

As we move into the fall of 2023, the collaborative efforts of Feminist Spatial Practices will be in full swing. Our web platform is taking shape, with our working groups researching content and collaborating with skilled web designers Omnivore Inc. The anticipation is building as we gear up for our the launch of our platform in 2024.

But that's not all – our commitment extends far beyond the launch. Our virtual programming, including practice shares and reading groups, will continue indefinitely. And by the fall of 2024, we're aiming to host in-person conferences and exhibitions that shine a spotlight on the shared values and methods of feminist spatial practices from around the world.

Join Us in Making a Difference:

We invite you to be a part of this transformative journey. Your support will help us create a powerful platform for knowledge sharing, empowerment, and community-building. By contributing to our GoFundMe campaign, you're not just supporting a project – you're contributing to a movement that's breaking down barriers and reshaping the future of design.

As a donor at any level your name will be listed on our website to show your contribution and support, unless you prefer to remain anonymous.

For More Info:

You can follow us at @feminist_spatial_practices on instagram or check out our website at www.feministspatialpractices.com. If you'd like to participate in this project, let us know here!

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About Us:

Our Core Values:

Our Team:

Co-Founders:

Bryony Roberts and Abriannah Aiken

Co-Chairs of Working Groups:

Abriannah Aiken, Santiago Alvarez, Layna Chen, Ridhi Chopra, Virginia Melnyk, Bryony Roberts, Amiti Singh, Renske Maria van Dam

Working Group Members:

Bilge Bal, Pip Bennett, Cynthia Deng, Elif Erez, Lindsay Harkema, Ruo Jia, Ishita Shah, Ryan Brooke Thomas

And an ever-expanding community of collaborators and advisers who contribute thoughts, hopes, and feedback to the project!

About our fiscal sponsor:

The Architectural League’s live events, digital media, publications, installations, and exhibitions present important work and ideas to inspire and help shape the path to a better future. The League encourages the development of talented architects and designers through competitions, commissions, and project grants. In addition, the League creates opportunities to explore solutions to problems in the built environment, through design studies and commissioned work, and pursues important areas of inquiry to help support the contribution of architecture to the common good. As a service to the design community, the League also serves as fiscal sponsor for select standalone, self-initiated projects each year.