We have a vision: the universal recognition of the contribution of women in photography – past, present and future. Our mission is to build a diverse community brought together by the shared celebration of women in photography.

 

Our Values

We believe in creativity, curiosity, compassion, competence, collaboration and community.

Our History

2020 marked the re-birth of Hundred Heroines as it achieved charitable status, thus securing its independence as an organisation.  Despite the challenging operating environment created by the global pandemic, the passion and drive behind Hundred Heroines have resulted in an impressive presence that delivers intrigue, education and enrichment – the first step in its transition from campaign to movement.

Pre 2020

In 2018, to mark the centenary of the women’s right to vote in the UK, the Royal Photographic Society ran a public campaign, conceived and led by its Vice President, Dr Del Barrett, to identify outstanding female photographers from around the globe. The response was overwhelming with nearly 5,000 people nominating more than 1,300 different candidates. From this, a panel of luminaries from the photographic world selected a final list: The One Hundred Heroines, representing the best of the inspiring women from across the world, whose work is transforming photography and the visual arts.

The project was so successful, it began to generate a range of new activities, and growing interest and support. To enable the project to flourish, and to provide a platform for further related initiatives, a new organisation was created by Dr Barrett with the name Hundred Heroines, and the RPS has now passed the custodianship for all future activity directly to this organisation, at the end of 2019.

Our Charitable Objects are:

(i) to advance art for the general public, particularly (but not exclusively) in photography and the visual arts, in particular by the exhibition and promotion of, and creating access to, women in photography; and

(ii) to advance the education of the general public, by increasing the public’s knowledge and understanding of photography and in doing so to promote the highest standards of achievement in photography in order to encourage public knowledge and appreciation of photography, in particular (but not exclusively) the contribution of women in photography.

Hundred Heroines is a member of The Cultural Governance Alliance, The NCVO, The Small Charities Coalition and is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.