HELLO NOVEMBER - We're BACK & ready to STRUT!  

Following our inaugural event, which took place in Bournemouth on Friday 8th December 2023.  Women & members of the LGBTQ+ community will once again meet at Horseshoe Common, wearing orange and fox themed accessories.  100's of  people are set to join this year's BIGGER, BRIGHTER & BOLDER community walk (to fabulous music)  of about 30-45 minutes, in celebration of both urban foxes & the visibility of women in society after dark. 

The aim is to come together, be seen and have fun!  

        Bournemouth 29th November 2024  

NEW Foxstruts: Birmingham,  London - TBC (early 2025) ...

Updates: Instagram: @foxstrutuk  (a dedicated website is coming soon).    

Bournemouth, in Dorset, has the highest concentration of Urban Foxes in the UK. These nocturnal creatures effortlessly navigate our urban landscapes, establishing their presence in the night-time realm of our town and city streets. However, the veil of darkness often casts a shadow of unease upon women and LGBTQ+ people, making them feel vulnerable and apprehensive during nocturnal hours. Fuelled by societal norms and personal experiences, women are unfairly scrutinized if they encounter violence or harassment, with blame often misplaced on their activities, clothing, or mere presence on the streets.

To mark the World Health Organization’s global 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence, 2023, photographer Jayne Jackson and artist Lorna Rees created a powerful series of portraits of Dorset women defiantly inhabiting public space in the dark. The work, crafted in collaboration with diverse women, sheds light on a spectrum of lived experiences, showcasing their bold reclamation of the night. Culminating in  the creation of a ground-breaking new event, Foxstrut, the project went on to win an Honorable Mention in the Julia Margaret Cameron Awards 2023.  

The 'Foxstrut' itself, is now an annual and rapidly spreading movement, originating on the streets of Bournemouth the vibrant, musical procession, is a joyful and memorable activist event.  Participants proudly don orange costume and clothing, as part of both a visual celebration of the urban fox and a collective stand against gender-based violence.

 

Thank you to everyone who came last year.  We were so overwhelmed with the huge turnout and support, as well as all the gorgeous feedback about the joyful and empowering nature of the event.  

Thank you also to Dorset Women, Gary Jensen (videographer) and to media including  BBC Radio Solent, Bournemouth Daily Echo, Heart FM, BBC Sounds, Greatest Hits Radio, Dorset Live, Simple Things Magazine and Dorset View for covering the event.   

TO find out more about why Dorset is taking action: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx033w1djgzo

'"I used to go on 'Reclaim the night" marches in the late 70s and 80s. It is shocking that here in 2023 the majority of women are still made to feel uncomfortable being out after dusk. This was a happy care-free 'fox' strut along parts of Bournemouth I would never go near. I would never walk past a street of bars and clubs nor go anywhere near an underpass, but together with such a large group of wonderful people it was quite liberating!" Well done Jayne and Lorna – I had such a great time.'       Jane, Foxstrutter

A group of crafty women created a host of fabulous fox outfits to parade through the dark streets of Bournemouth in a cunning protest of violence against women after dark. As a skulk of foxes, our group felt empowered to brave the streets… hoping that in the future our daughters will feel as safe on their own and our sons will be looking out for them and not threatening them. So wonderful to be part of something so liberating and to demand safe streets for foxcubs, vixens, tods and silver foxes alike.'     Jessica, Foxstrutter

To arrange or find a Foxstrut please contact:

Jayne Jackson jaynejacksonphotography@gmail.com

https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/16-days-of-activism

*FOXSTRUT will be launching more struts across the UK from 2024 - 2025.  If you are interested in taking part, collaborating or running a strut - get in touch CONTACT