Wildcat Cards – Sheffield’s feminist art collective
This month, a fascinating set of documents was deposited
at Sheffield Archives which will be of interest to students of history,
politics and art alike - the records of Wildcat Cards.
Wildcat Cards was founded in Sep 1988 by the
Sheffield-based cartoonist and graphic designer Fi Frances in order to make women's art more accessible to the public via high quality cards promoting
images and messages by women for women. The
project related Fi’s skills in graphics and cartooning to the politics of
feminism and other radical campaigns which she was involved in. Wildcat Cards produced greetings cards,
postcards and posters designed by women artists and actively sought input from
women in a wide range of different life situations (from different classes,
ethnic backgrounds, sexualities, abilities, ages and educational and political
backgrounds). Some designs were produced
as support cards for women's organisations and campaigns such as ‘Sheffield Women
Against Pit Closures’.
By 1990, Wildcat Cards was an established collective of
four women: Fi Frances, Maya Chowdhry, Mal Finch and Judith Dixon. The Collective increased to seven members
by 1991, and designs were submitted by a number of different female
artists. Wildcat Cards remained based in
Sheffield and the majority of its business was through mail order. Although the Collective was dissolved in
1992, the business continued to operate until 1994.
The collection of card designs and posters was deposited
at Sheffield Archives by Angela Martin, a former member of the Wildcat
collective. To view the collection (ref.
X649) contact Sheffield Archives archives@sheffield.gov.uk
Pictured (above) 'Why the hell should I?' and (left) 'Post Feminism' both by Angela Martin.