1in3 – No More GBV

Funded by Arts Council England, National Lottery Project Grant
Project Lead: Damayanthi Muthukumaranage, Founder and Director, Humanity Media CIC

The 1in3 Project is a powerful community initiative created to confront gender based violence through art, film, poetry, and public engagement. The project was funded through an Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant awarded to Damayanthi Muthukumaranage, the Founder and Director of Humanity Media CIC. The project brought together artists, community members, and partner organisations across Wolverhampton and the wider West Midlands to raise awareness, support survivors, and encourage open conversations around an issue that is often silenced.

Through a programme of workshops and creative sessions, participants were invited to explore their experiences, express their emotions, and contribute their voices to a collective body of work dedicated to ending gender based violence. The workshops created supportive and inclusive spaces where individuals could reflect on personal and shared experiences, while using creativity as a means of healing, dialogue, and advocacy.

The project produced a series of films and artistic works, including the widely discussed short film “I Am Sorry.” These works were shared with the public through events hosted in partnership with Wolverhampton Arts Centre and the LoveTheReans Festival. One of the key public events included a dedicated film sharing session with filmmaker Diyodi Menon, which attracted strong interest and generated meaningful discussion among audiences.

1in3 received strong regional media coverage and quickly became recognised as an important creative movement addressing gender based violence. The Express and Star published a feature titled “Wolverhampton’s 1in3 Project – A Passionate Stand Against Gender Based Violence,” highlighting the purpose, impact, and community reach of the project. Ian Henery, Poet Laureate of Walsall, also published an article reflecting on the artistic and social value of the initiative. Online platforms including Visit Birmingham and Wolverhampton Arts Centre promoted the project events, helping the project reach wider regional audiences.

Across social media platforms, the project generated significant engagement and visibility. Creative outputs including artwork, poetry, interviews, and film clips were widely shared, allowing the project to reach thousands of people online and spark ongoing discussions about gender based violence, resilience, and community responsibility.

The success of 1in3 was built on strong collaboration with local community groups, grassroots organisations, frontline workers, and survivors. The project engaged participants from diverse backgrounds including women, young people, marginalised communities, and individuals directly or indirectly affected by abuse. These collaborations helped create safe and respectful environments where people felt able to share their experiences and contribute meaningfully to the creative process.

The 1in3 Project stands as a powerful example of how art and storytelling can become instruments of social change. Through creative expression, participants transformed pain into voice and silence into visibility. Led by Damayanthi Muthukumaranage, the project demonstrated that when communities come together with compassion, creativity, and purpose, the message of “No More Gender Based Violence” becomes stronger than ever.

Three people, two adults and one child, looking at colorful artwork on a gallery wall inside a building, with a stroller nearby, also visible are paintings and drawings on the wall and a view into another area with hanging string lights.
Two people viewing colorful artwork displayed on a white gallery wall, with a stack of books in the foreground.
A woman wearing a black coat and white sneakers viewing various colorful artworks on a white gallery wall.
Two people are standing and talking in an art gallery. The woman on the left has short curly hair, glasses, and is wearing a yellow jacket and brown pants. The man on the right is bald, wearing a black puffer jacket, blue pants, and white sneakers. T
A woman with blonde hair tied in a bun, wearing glasses, a navy blue coat, and gray sneakers, is looking at artwork on a white gallery wall. She is carrying a pink bag and a white plastic bag filled with items. The gallery wall has framed artworks an
Two people viewing children's artwork and paintings on an art display wall inside a gallery or public space.
A person in a black jacket and black cap standing in an art gallery, looking at framed artwork on a white wall.
Three people smiling and standing together in an art gallery. A large poster behind them displays statistics about women and violence, with illustrations of three women at the top.
Four people standing together indoors at an art gallery or exhibition, smiling at the camera. The background features colorful artworks and posters on the wall.
People viewing colorful artwork on a white gallery wall, which includes paintings of trees, landscapes, animals, and symbols, with some featuring text and flags.
People viewing artwork in an art gallery, with paintings on the walls, some people standing and talking, others sitting, and a table in the foreground with brochures and a spray bottle.
Four people standing in a circle indoors, engaged in conversation, with colorful artwork on the wall behind them.
Three women are viewing colorful paintings on a gallery wall. One woman is speaking to the other two. One woman has gray hair and glasses, wearing a black coat and blue jeans. The middle woman has dark hair and is wearing a navy coat with a fur colla
Two women looking at artwork in an art gallery with several paintings on the wall.
People viewing colorful artwork in an art gallery, with paintings on white walls and visitors carrying backpacks.
A group of people seated at tables and facing a speaker or presentation in a room with floral wallpaper, wall lamps, and a doorway to the outside.
A man with glasses holding a phone standing in front of a microphone at a public event, with a banner in the background featuring three women and the text '1 in 3'.
Group of people sitting at a table during a social gathering or dinner, with drinks and notebooks on the table, in a room with floral decor on the wall.
A man dressed in a dark suit and glasses is standing at a microphone, looking at his phone, in front of banners promoting awareness of gender-based violence and sexual harassment.
An indoor event with people seated at tables, watching a performer on stage. The room has brick and white walls, large windows, and decorative lighting.
Four women standing on stage speaking or singing into microphones, with music stands in front of them. Behind them is a banner with visible text and art of three women. Audience members are visible in the foreground.
Group of six women standing and sitting on a stage, three are reading from paper, and one is sitting, in front of microphones, with a banner of organizations behind them, and an audience watching.
People seated and standing in a floral patterned room with pink roses wallpaper, during an event at Clarendon Square, with drinks on tables and some individuals reading or using phones.
A woman singing or reading in front of microphone stands, with music sheets on pink and black music stands, in a room with posters and a large artwork of three women on the wall in the background.
A woman speaking into a microphone at a public event, with a music stand holding sheet music and notes in front of her.
A woman with red hair wearing a blue striped shirt reading from a booklet at a stand with a music stand in front of her. Behind her are banners and a wall with a painting of three nude women with long hair and a large red '1 in 3' text.
Two women singing or speaking into microphones at a music or community event, standing behind music stands with papers, in a room decorated with posters and artwork, including a banner about women's issues.
A man with a beard, glasses, and a mustache speaking into a microphone at an event, standing in front of a poster that reads '1 in 3' with an illustration of three women.
An art gallery with white walls, featuring framed paintings and two hanging banners with artwork and handwritten text. There are tables with papers and art supplies in the foreground, and ceiling lights illuminating the exhibit.
Mixed media artwork depicting a nude woman with closed eyes and long black hair, surrounded by abstract text and faces with open mouths, using vibrant red, green, blue, and black colors.
An art gallery wall with several framed artworks, each with a description card underneath.
An art exhibit showing three paintings on a white wall. The first artwork is a large, bold graphic poster with a red, black, gray, and white design, depicting a stylized woman with flowing hair and the text 'END GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE'. The second pai
Art display with five black and white framed photographs on a white wall, featuring abstract and surreal images involving shadow and light.
People viewing colorful artwork in a gallery, with some individuals standing and discussing, and a banner with a rainbow flag design hanging among the art pieces displayed on the wall.
People viewing artwork at an art gallery or exhibition, with colorful paintings and drawings displayed on the wall.
Two women are looking at a handmade cloth doll with painted features, placed on a chair. The doll is part of a tribute exhibit at an art gallery, with paintings and framed articles on the wall.
A handmade cloth doll with a painted face, white yarn hair, and bloodstains on its clothing. The doll's shirt has a message about ending violence against women.
A young person sitting on the floor with their legs extended and wearing sneakers, next to a memorial sculpture of a doll with dreadlocks draped in a paper with handwritten names and messages, against a plain wall.