In the Women's Room community art project, we worked together with women who have survived years of homelessness. However, getting an apartment does not yet guarantee final security and the removal of the threat of homelessness, as it takes time for the clients of the subsidized unit to adapt to everyday life and to strengthen their own agency. Name of the project is based on a statement by Virginia Woolf’s “every woman needs a room of her own”.
Although homelessness in Finland has decreased in recent years, with the general decrease in homelessness, the relative share of homeless women has increased in the light of statistics. More homeless people than before are women. Men's homelessness is public and visible, while women's homelessness is personal and hidden in nature. The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual insecurity of women is a characteristic of women among the homeless, which is related to the everyday means of survival of homeless women. Homeless women are exposed to various forms of violence and exploitation.
The work took place in regular workshop-style meetings, using art-based methods. The themes were e.g. love and self-love, safer spaces, a safe experience of femininity, community, inclusion and self-image. The purpose of the workshops was to strengthen the individual's ability to build psychological security for himself and to help build a positive self-image that prevents the further threatening marginalization and feeling of insecurity. The working group is committed to protect the participants anonymity.
The final works of the Women's Room socially engaged art project resulted in two video works that deal with love, safety and insecurity as a physical and psychological experience.
Exhibitions
The project has been exhibited in
Helsinki City Museum, Helsinki, Finland, 2023
Alppikulma, Helsinki, Finland, 2023
Working group
Katriina Haikala, sociologist Leena Alanko, producer Anna Miettinen, expert by experience Riikka Tuomi, curator Pirkko Siitari and documentary photographer Johanna Tirronen
In collaboration with: Rinnekodit
Media
Watch Katriina Haikala being interviewed in the morning show at MTV Finland
Study on the implementation and effects of the Women’s Room socially engaged art project
Read the report:
This study was conducted as part of the Women’s Room community art project. The purpose was to examine agency in the project as well as document how the project was carried out. The study was conducted by Leena Alanko who worked as part of the working group. Study methods included eight participant interviews and observation during the workshop-style meetings led by Katriina Haikala.
Based on the collected material the study sheds light on e.g. the following questions: motivations to participate in the project, what the participant liked the most in the workshops and what were the most unliked exercises, experiences of safety at the workshop meetings. The study also summarizes the key recommendations from the project. These recommendations can help everyone interested in conducting an art based project as part of work to prevent homelessness especially among women. The recommendations can also be used more widely when planning participatory and community-based activities where the purpose is to work with the most vulnerable groups.The study is currently on available in Finnish.
Text: Leena Alanko / Graphic design and photos: Johanna Tirronen
Women’s Room
“Rakkauksia” | “Loves”
2023
4K, Color, Duration 10 min 47 s
Scriptwriter, director, production, editing and sound design Katriina Haikala
Film, color correction and sound technician Alex Merveroux
Voice overs Riikka Tuomi ja Katriina Haikala
“Naisten huone” | “Women’s Room”
2023
4K, Color, Duration 3 min 32 s
Scriptwriter, director, editor and sound design Katriina Haikala
Production Anna Miettinen
Sound technician: Alex Merveroux
Voice overs Riikka Tuomi ja Katriina Haikala
Exhibition
All photos Alex Merveroux, 2023
Working together
All photos Johanna Tirronen, 2023
