49:51 Male Stacks, Female Gaps: Inequality in Artist Books in Libraries

This project addresses the significant gender imbalance in UK public library collections of artist monographs, where an estimated 95% of monographs focus on male artists. The initiative aims to model and advocate for equal representation of female and male artists across library shelves.

PROJECT SUMMARY:

Aims

• Achieve gender parity (50:50) in artist monograph collections in public libraries, starting in Abergavenny and scaling up across Wales and the UK.
   
• Use my artistic practice as a tool for social impact, combining visual installation, research, movement, and positive action.
  
  Key Actions to Date
  
  In March 2025 I created a prototype 49:51 library installation exhibiting it in Hereford (IMPOSURE group show) with 100 books (real and placeholder) to represent gender and racial diversity aligned with 2021 census data.
   
• Research & Data: Collected local library data (e.g. Salisbury: 5F/115M, Newbury 5F/100M, Abergavenny 3F/37M ). FOI requests to Shetland and Oxford libraries revealed gaps in metadata.
   
• Engagement: Delivered a 5-minute ‘lightning talk’ at an UnConference linking gender representation in public libraries to leadership. Initiated conversations with publishers, artists, and organisations.