City's notable women celebrated with new sculpture

Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured right) unveiled the sculpture on Friday alongside artist Pippa Hales

A sculpture championing some of Leeds most inspirational women has been unveiled as part of efforts to redress the gender imbalance in public art in the city.

The 5m (16ft) high artwork was created by Pippa Hale and comprises five steel ribbons engraved with the names of almost 400 women.

Located outside Leeds Playhouse in Quarry Hill, "Ribbons" was officially revealed by chancellor Rachel Reeves on Friday.

Speaking to BBC Look North, she said the sculpture was a way to "celebrate the achievements of women in our city".

A Leeds City Council sculpture review, published in 2020, highlighted the lack of diversity in public sculpture in Leeds and included Ribbons in an action plan to address this issue.

Following a public call-out, nearly 400 women from all walks of life were nominated.

Ms Hale, who designed the artwork, said the ribbons did not just symbolise a historic reference to the suffragette movement.

In an interview with the BBC in 2019, she said: "Ribbons tie many parts together, so the idea is that we are binding the names of these women together over time and space in a celebration of womanhood."

The women chosen for the artwork were all nominated by members of the public.

Among the women featured are former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams and social reformer and suffragist Isabella Ford.

Also included are women who have dedicated their lives to helping others, such as Tina Suryavansi, who runs Homeless Hampers, and Rebekah Wilson, who set up the charity Zarach to address child poverty in Leeds.

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