Image
Anne Carr
Biography
Throughout the 1990's Anne was Co-ordinator of the Women Together organisation, actively involved with women in grassroots communities in Northern Ireland, challenging violence and promoting inclusive and resilient neighbourhoods. She planned and facilitated a wide range of community workshops, residential processes and training events, involving women from across community divides and cross border, all aimed at sharing and learning from one another, engaging and empowering women as peacebuilders, promoting understanding and improving community relationships.
She was the first Local Councillor elected for the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, serving on Down District Council from 1997 - 2001 and was part of the team involved in achieving the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement in April 1998.
In 1997 she was part of the small and diverse group of community activists that created the Community Dialogue organisation and her passion for this work continues with CD today, creating safe enough spaces to allow diverse voices to be heard, difficult conversations to take place and the reality of lived experiences to foster understanding across divides.
Anne has worked with the Women Without Borders organisation, facilitating a story sharing project in Mumbai, India, bringing together family members bereaved in the 2012 Mumbai attacks and led story-telling and sharing training in Vienna, Austria, with participants from various conflict areas around the world.
Anne has in recent times has been continuing to work with women from across Northern Ireland to share her journey and story of the importance of women in peace building and to support and empower a new generation of women to continue to build on the promises of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. There are many issues being raised around Brexit and the border, women and participation, cost of living crisis and poverty, climate justice, inclusion, legacy issues etc. and there is a need to hear from women on the issues which are affecting their everyday lives and quality of life today.
"In this 25th anniversary year of our Agreement, it is so important for women in dialogue, learning and sharing, to better understand the journey and context that led us from violence to ceasefires to peace talks and to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and to unpack the Agreement and develop a better understanding of the underpinning values and principles and promises made to one another in developing a just and equitable society where grass roots voices are central to decision making processes at all levels."
Anne is a founder parent of All Children's Integrated Primary School in Newcastle, Co. Down, the first parent driven planned shared primary school outside of Belfast.
She joined the ad-hoc parent's group in October, 1985, took on the role of Public Relations Officer, and when the school opened in 1986, she was involved in all aspects of school life. She joined the Board of Governors, holding the position of chairperson for fourteen years, and leading the development of the school to the successful model of integrated excellence it is today. She was also fundamental in the drive to develop Shimna College, the integrated second level college next door.
Anne is a Justice of the Peace, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was recently appointed by the British and Irish Governments to the Board of the International Fund for Ireland.
In 1999 Anne was delighted to be the recipient of the Peacebuilding Award presented by the Baha'i Community Northern Ireland at their Century of Light Celebrations.
In 2008 she received the Community Relations Council Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Community Relations.
Object
Some of the sitters have provided objects that came up in discussions with Hannah Starkey when sitting for their portraits. These personal selections speak to their work, activism and impact, and give insight into the meaning behind the project.
“a photo I love. It was taken by Jane Morrice at the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
She sent it through to me a few months ago. I had never seen it before. It says so much, in a sea of mostly men.”