Oxford City Council unable to share new town hall portraits

The Oxford Mail asked for photos of the portraits, which were installed to better represent the city's diverse population within the historical building.

But the authority told us this was not possible.

Previously, out of the 45 paintings in the town hall, a Grade II listed building, only five portrayed women.

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However, the city council could not provide the images of the portraits due to not having permission to share the pictures, one being from the History Centre while another would incur a license fee to the photographer.

Earlier this year, Katherine Miles, who represents the Summertown ward, said the council was called out for displaying artwork which contained themes “that are inappropriate for a progressive public body”.

In the motion submitted to the city council, Ms Miles highlighted examples of these themes including “animal cruelty and gender based violence”.

These newly installed black-and-white photographs capture women who were key figures in Oxford's political history.

Residents and visitors to the council chamber, where full council meetings convene, will now be privy to a more balanced representation of local historical figures.

Layla Moran is among those featured in the portraits (Image: n/a)The images feature Lubna Arshad, the first woman of colour to be lord mayor of Oxford, Anneliese Dodds and Layla Moran, both serving as MPs for Oxford East and Oxford West/Abingdon respectively.

Ms Moran said: “I’m honoured to have been recognised alongside some brilliant women.

"It was never acceptable that only one in nine of the photos in Oxford Town Hall featured women, and I’m happy to see that this has finally been rectified.

"This county has had great people from many different backgrounds, and it is vital that those from historically under-recognised groups receive the representation that they deserve.”

Also included are Olive Gibbs, serving as the second female lord mayor and an ardent champion of social causes and Mary Sophia Merivale, Oxford's first female councillor.

Baroness Frances O'Grady, the first female general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Icolyn "Ma" Smith MBE, founder of the Oxford Community Soup Kitchen and Lily Tawney OBE, the first woman lord mayor of Oxford are also featured.

Icolyn Smith serves up Christmas dinner (Image: n/a)

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The city council chamber's gallery now has nine photographs of women out of 22 images.

The entire printing and installation process came at a cost of £200.

Alongside these new pictures, a photograph displaying all current councillors will be installed in the town hall.

The city council also anticipates regularly refreshing the gallery space, featuring various local art and photography to mirror the community it serves.

However, the city council has no intentions of removing any existing artwork.

Instead, new information leaflets will provide a better understanding of the existing artwork's history and its place in the town hall.

Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council said: "We think it’s important that when residents and school groups visit the town hall, they see themselves represented back.

"Oxford is strongest when all parts of our community feel they can stand for election and have a voice.

“I would like, in particular, to thank councillor Katherine Miles for her expertise, enthusiasm and hard work on tracking down the history of various existing art and tracking down portraits for us to us."

Ms Miles said: "Women have always played an important role in the social fabric of Oxford, but they have not always received public recognition.

"We now have more women on the walls of the council chamber – the heart of local democracy – to celebrate and inspire women’s participation and leadership in political and public life."