GUEST COLUMN:
Helen Molyneux
Co-founder
Monumental Welsh Women
When we started the Monumental Welsh Women campaign nearly a decade ago, our ambition was simple – to recognise the remarkable women who have shaped Wales but had, until then, been largely overlooked.
There was not a single named Welsh woman commemorated in statue form, despite the countless contributions made by women across all aspects of Welsh life. That absence was glaring, and we set out to change it.
What began as a single statue has become five. The first, of Betty Campbell, now stands proudly in Central Square, Cardiff, celebrating Wales’ first black headteacher and a formidable and celebrated community leader.
Then came Dr Elaine Morgan in Mountain Ash, Cranogwen in Llangrannog, and Lady Rhondda in Newport. Later this year, we will unveil our final statue, of Elizabeth Andrews, in the Rhondda.
Each represents a different sphere in which women have contributed, whether in education, literature, activism or politics. Together, they tell a broader story about the role women have played in shaping Wales.
Yet even as we complete this phase of the campaign, it is clear that our work is not finished. Five statues do not redress the imbalance, and they cannot be the end of the conversation. The aim has never been to tick a box and declare the job done – it has been to shift the narrative about how we remember our past and who we choose to celebrate in our public spaces.
International Women’s Day this year carries the theme of accelerating action. That feels especially relevant at a time when women’s rights, far from advancing, are in many places under threat. From education bans in Afghanistan to legal rollbacks in the United States, there are stark reminders that progress is never guaranteed. Even closer to home, we see debates emerging that question rights long thought settled.
That is why visibility matters. Public art and statues are not just about the past; they shape the present and influence the future. They tell us who and what we value as a society. For generations, statues of men have filled our squares and streets, reinforcing the idea that history belongs to them alone. Changing that landscape is not just about fairness – it is about making sure that girls growing up in Wales see themselves reflected in our shared story.
The response to the campaign has been overwhelming. The public engagement has demonstrated just how hungry people are to hear these stories. When we launched a vote to decide which woman should be honoured first, more people took part than voted in the semi-final of Strictly Come Dancing. That tells you something about the strength of feeling behind this movement.
Funding these statues has been a challenge, but one we have met through the generosity of communities, businesses, and the Welsh Government. Nearly £600,000 has been raised, and we are now in the final push to reach our final target. But beyond raising money, we hope that this campaign has raised awareness.
What I want more than anything is for this to set a precedent. That when new statues are commissioned in the future, those responsible will stop and ask themselves: who has been left out of the story? That artists and decision-makers will think more broadly about representation in public art.
Monumental Welsh Women has been about more than just creating five statues. It has been about starting a movement. This definitely should not be the end.
