The project will record, catalogue and distribute oral histories, diverse portraits, and maritime testimonies to address a significant gap in the provision of maritime heritage in and near Ipswich, once a major port town in the medieval Hanseatic network.

The elements funded by National Lottery players are:

• activating and managing the research hub which will also act as an ongoing meeting space
• creating and disseminating a tide calendar which will profile individual stories
• supporting evaluation, marketing and access costs

Ipswich’s rich maritime history has had a huge impact on the town’s cultural identity and diversity.

The Shefarers of Ipswich will highlight untold stories of women working at sea in a region with an incredibly rich maritime heritage. We are delighted The National Lottery Heritage Fund have helped bring this project to life.

Robin Deacon, Artistic Director of SPILL Festival

Initiated by German art collective secret agency (geheimagentur), building a connected and resilient network of Shefarers will inspire more opportunities for women, from access to private female changing for staff on vessels to maximising community impact.

Robin Deacon, Artistic Director of SPILL Festival said: “It is wonderful to connect the Women of the Seven Seas project with our local maritime communities as part of SPILL Festival this year. The Shefarers of Ipswich will highlight untold stories of women working at sea in a region with an incredibly rich maritime heritage. We are delighted The National Lottery Heritage Fund have helped bring this project to life.”