Godiva Sisters 2008

The Godiva Sisters project is about social inclusion – not being achieved through academic lectures, written documents or intellectual argument (as important and necessary as these might be), but achieved instead through dramatic story, colourful spectacle and personal encounter with “those different from ourselves”. Such an artistic project engages and changes people at a deeper level.

Pru Porretta, Coventry’s present-day Lady Godiva, has reached out to the various ethnic, cultural and faith communities in the city of Coventry. She has made herself available to share with groups and individuals the story that lies at the heart of Coventry. She felt the need to open up the story, to include something of the history, culture and values of those communities. She asked them to choose a heroine, who would embody and represent that community in a wider context.

Having chosen a heroine, a working-group was set up to design and create, with guidance from a textile artist, a banner depicting the heroine and her story in the tradition and style of that community. Later in the project, decorated umbrellas were included in the group’s artistic work. One member of each group was chosen to act the character of the heroine, but more importantly to become a Godiva Sister and to be an animateur among her community. Some groups were initially quite nervous about public performance. Much encouragement and support was needed to enable them to complete the work and be ready to perform

at the annual Godiva Sisters event in September.

More established and experienced groups led the way by preparing music or dance for the event. An original six Sisters in 2002 has grown to thirteen Sisters in 2008: