100 years of the right to vote: celebrating the pioneering women who built UCL

The Representation of the People Act, passed on 6 February 1918, extended the franchise to almost all men, plus women who were over the age of 30 and met minimum property qualifications. Ten months later, on 14 December 1918, 8.5 million women were able to vote for the first time.

As a university founded by radical thinkers, UCL had become one of the first universities in England to admit women on equal terms with men in 1878, 40 years before women were finally granted the vote. This year's programme of exhibitions, talks, tours, comedy and performance will uncover the stories of the pioneering women who helped build UCL, and explore the battles still to be won.

See the full programme of UCL Vote 100 events

The year began with the launch of Prize & Prejudice, a major exhibition in the UCL Art Museum shining a light on the women to win the coveted Slade Prize. UCL's Slade School of Fine Art admitted women from its foundation in 1871, and many of the winners of its prestigious Prize have been women. The exhibition focuses on the experiences of these leading artists, largely now forgotten, and uncovers the circumstances and prejudices that constrained their careers.

Highlights of the year also include UCL Female Firsts - an exhibition focusing on twelve women drawn from UCL's twelve faculties who have made a far-reaching impact on UCL and the world, ranging from a leading code breaker to the UK's first female doctor.

All the women celebrated have transformed their field and the world, and their stories will be illustrated with original artwork by artist Kristina Clackson Bonnington, exhibited in the Cloisters throughout 2018 from March.

Other activities include Disruptors and Innovators, an exhibition in the Octagon Gallery exploring the first two decades of the 20th Century and the UCL women who faced significant barriers but also made the most of huge opportunities during the period.

The year will also see a wikithon - a Wikipedia editathon to increase the visibility of pioneering UCL women, led by UCL staff and students as part of the Global Citizenship Programme.

Welcoming the varied programme, UCL President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur said: 

"These events will give us an eye-opening insight into the barriers women have faced at UCL and in the wider world, and how far they were able to reach despite them. It is also an important opportunity to examine where equality is still to be achieved and learn from the past. I'm delighted that UCL is playing such an active role in celebrating this centenary year, and I think it will provoke a lot of debate about how far we have come and how far we still need to go." 

Find out more about these and the many other UCL Vote 100 events