top of page
AdobeStock_1113006173.jpeg

Be Part of It: 
C
elebrating female resilience, creativity and empowerment through visual art and storytelling 

Touchlines of Fortitude is a visual arts and community engagement project celebrating female resilience, creativity, and empowerment through the lens of rugby and visual art. Funded in part by Arts Council England and timed to coincide with the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, the project includes two exhibitions, a schools outreach programme, community storytelling events, and digital legacy content.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a high-impact cultural project rooted in Twickenham, the symbolic home of rugby, engaging local communities and amplifying underrepresented voices.

Proudly supported by
Arts Council England

WHY NOW / WHY HERE / WHY US

Why Now?

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to harness national attention around female participation, resilience, and representation. Running throughout September 2025, Touchlines of Fortitude will align with this global event, and extend its legacy beyond the pitch into local galleries, schools, and communities—inspiring the next generation of girls and women to push boundaries and share their stories.



Why Here?

Twickenham and the wider Richmond area are culturally vibrant, youth-rich, and home to a strong voluntary arts and sports network. Yet women—particularly neurodiverse and marginalised voices—remain underrepresented in both arts leadership and sport. This project responds directly to local priorities by:

  • Creating accessible, free-to-attend exhibitions and events

  • Platforming relatable role models

  • Partnering with schools and grassroots networks

Timeline of events

  • Fri 12 Sept
    12 Sept 2025, 11:00 – 21 Sept 2025, 17:00
    The Beach gallery, 197 Waldegrave Rd, Teddington TW11 8LX, UK
    Celebrating stories of female strength and resilience through art and creativity by local artists: Gina DeCagna, Tahira Mandarino and Agnieszka Lokaj. Curated by Lynn Szygenda.
  • 24 Sept 2025, 18:30 – 20:00
    Teddington, 197 Waldegrave Rd, Teddington TW11 8LX, UK
    Open call group exhibition to feature selected works from an open call, bringing together emerging voices from across London and beyond.
  • Thu 25 Sept
    25 Sept 2025, 11:00 – 05 Oct 2025, 17:00
    The Beach gallery, 197 Waldegrave Rd, Teddington TW11 8LX, UK
    Awards for the best painting, ceramics, yarn art, photo and sculpture will be judged by a high-profile panel including prominent art critic Tabish Khan and high-profile figurative artist Karen Turner, Touchlines of Fortitude curator Agnieszka Lokaj and Mark Vellacott, The Beach Gallery owner.
  • Wed 17 Sept
    17 Sept 2025, 18:00 – 19:30
    The Exchange, 75 London Rd, Twickenham TW1 1BE, UK
    How do sport and art each uniquely build resilience? Join us for a panel discussion on 17 Setpember, free tickets.
  • 13 Sept 2025, 14:00 – 16:00
    The Beach gallery, 197 Waldegrave Rd, Teddington TW11 8LX, UK
    Free writing workshop in Teddington Hosted by rugby journalist, author & media expert Alison Kervin OBE
  • Thu 11 Sept
    11 Sept 2025, 18:30 – 20:30
    The Beach gallery, 197 Waldegrave Rd, Teddington TW11 8LX, UK
    A free-to-attend exhibition of works on the theme of ‘Female Resilience’ by Richmond based artists Agnieszka Lokaj, Gina DeCagna and Tahira Mandarino, curated by Lynn Szygenda.

Help Us Bring This Vision to Life

While we’re proud to have received part-funding from Arts Council England, this only covers a portion of our ambitious plans. To deliver the full programme - including two powerful exhibitions, three public events, an online showcase, and community-led storytelling linked to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 - we still need to secure significant additional support.
 

We’re actively seeking partners, sponsors, and collaborators who believe in the power of art, sport, and storytelling to drive change and champion female resilience. With your support, we can bring this important project to life in its fullest form.

If this speaks to you — let’s talk. Fill the form below or drop us an e-mail: info@fortitude-touchlines.com

Get in Touch

Reach out to us for more information on our project and how you can be involved.

IMG_8341.JPG

Key Points

Celebrating Resilience

Highlighting female strength

Empowering Creativity

Encouraging artistic expression

Local Engagement

Involving the community

Female rugby player -  female resilience through art, sport & storytelling

Stay Connected with Us

Touchlines of Fortitude

 

© 2025 by Touchlines of Fortitude. Powered and secured by Wix

 

bottom of page