Bags of Potential is an art project celebrating and documenting women’s experiences at the Bar. These experiences will be gathered through a series of online and in-person focus groups and a call out for stories and submissions on social media. This content will be collated and turned into artwork by artist, Rachael Brien, herself a former member of the Bar.

The Project

We are inviting women to donate their blue bags to be incorporated into a textile-based artwork. This can be from the women who have left the Bar, those who now have red bags or those who are now a silk or a judge. 

The Exhibition

The exhibition will be launched in 2025 to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of the publication of the Bar Council’s “Snapshot: The Experience of Women at the Self-Employed Bar” report. The exhibition will be hosted at a legal venue to be decided.

Ways to support

• Donate your bag! We would love to have as many bags as possible to contribute to the exhibition.
• Contribute to our focus groups - We'll release more details about the sessions being organised soon.
• Get your firm or chambers to sponsor us  -  We are raising funds to support the organising of focus groups, obtaining materials, creating the artwork, marketing and preparing the exhibition.
• Raise awareness - We would love you to share details about this project on your social media and with your organisation.

Meet the Artist

Rachael Brien (nee Sewell)

Rachael was a Barrister between 2011-2014 at St Paul’s Chambers, Leeds. She is now an artist after a decade spent working in various different roles with creating social change as the common denominator. She has co-founded two businesses, namely A Woven Plane and Buy The Kilo, and has recently set up a group called Newborn Parents.

If you would like to contribute to the Bags of Potential project then please contact info@ivyandnormanton.com for more information.