Exhibition: Women of Bethnal Green at Work

EXTENDED UNTIL THURSDAY 13 April 2023.

Open Tues- Thurs, 10am – 5.30pm

As part of Oxford House’s heritage programme, we are delighted to present a brand new exhibition of portraits by photographer Sarah Ainslie. From tradeswomen, to community organisers, faith leaders, artists, and shopkeepers; this exhibition showcases and celebrates the many women who contribute to life in Bethnal Green.  Over thirty years since Sarah’s remarkable project documenting working women’s lives in Hackney, this is an exhibition of contemporary portraits of local women and their diverse work.

About Sarah Ainslie

Sarah Ainslie is a Tower Hamlets based photographer who has documented local life for decades. Inspired by east London, Sarah has worked in collaborative projects with The Brady Centre, Four Corners, Hackney Museum, Islington Museum and is a contributing photographer to Spitalfields Life. Alongside this, Sarah has collaborated with many theatre companies including Complicite, Clean Break, the Almeida Music Festivals, and the Royal Court. Her television work includes Stephen Poliakof’s, For Perfect Strangers and The Lost Prince.

Through the Lens Programme

Oxford House has commissioned Women of Bethnal Green at Work as part of our two-year heritage programme Through the Lens.  This exhibition forms part of a project inspired by our ongoing research into the working lives of many of Oxford House’s early women and their contributions – a history which has remained largely hidden. Alongside this exhibition, there will be talks, workshops and creative programmes exploring this topic and the lives of women past and present in Bethnal Green. This project has been made possible with funding by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.