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This article is part of the Free to Bleed: Data Driven Advocacy and Art for Menstrual Justice project, an Open University and Vagina Museum collaboration funded by the Open Societal Challenges initiative. It relates to Open University law modules including W340: Law, Society, and Culture, and W350: Exploring Legal Boundaries. 

What is the Free to Bleed project?

'Free to Bleed: Data Driven Advocacy and Art for Menstrual Justice' (hereafter Free to Bleed) brings together data, law and art to build the case for menstrual justice. Through national polling, creative expression and legal analysis, the project challenges stigma and highlights how menstrual inequity affects people across the UK. 

The event at the Vagina Museum was designed to highlight the project, introduce Wee Nuls, the artist in residence, and showcase key findings from the YouGov poll on menstrual justice. Neelam Heera-Shergill from Cysters was invited to provide a keynote speech to open the event and to share her insights on menstrual justice. Importantly, the event was also a space for hearing about lived experiences of menstruation through craftivism, and to build networks with communities.

As an intern on the project, in the lead-up to the event, I worked on income-related findings, helped prepare slides, and created social media content to promote the event and create awareness. This helped me understand how research can be translated into accessible visuals and how rights around dignity, privacy and health appear in everyday experiences. As a law student, seeing these themes move from theory into practice was especially meaningful.

Free to Bleed at the Vagina Museum 

Before the event started, guests were able to explore the museum’s exhibitions. The event then began with keynote speaker, Neelam Heera-Shergill from Cysters, delivering a powerful talk on the decolonisation of the health system and the inequalities that shape menstrual experiences. Her reflections grounded the event in a wider political and historical context and highlighted that menstrual equity is not only about access to products but also about whose pain is recognised and whose is overlooked.

Artist in residence, Wee Nuls, then spoke about her work in Belfast and how public walls are a way for people to express what matters to them. She shared the story of a mural she created for the Menstruation Matters campaign, which was later censored. Listening to her reflect on that experience, and how it encouraged her to continue her work, showed how art does more than decorate a space. It can speak for issues that are often ignored, and it can bring conversations into public view in a way that data or policy alone cannot. Her story was a reminder that advocacy takes many forms and that creative work can open doors to understanding that people might otherwise avoid.

The ‘Bloody Beads’ workshop

The ‘Bloody Beads’ workshop followed panel talks and provided a space for creativity and connection. Instead of the usual 23 white and five red beads bracelet design for Menstrual Health Day, participants were asked to choose colours that matched their own personal experiences. It showed how creativity can make difficult topics easier to approach, and how shared activity can build understanding in a way that conversation alone sometimes cannot. People shared their own stories, from navigating chronic conditions to dealing with stigma in workplaces, schools and healthcare settings.

Why do events like this matter?

Events like this make menstrual experiences visible. They create space for people to speak openly, challenge stigma and connect with others who understand. Spaces like the Vagina Museum help normalise conversations that are often hidden. I learned how differently menstruation affects people and how wide the range of menstrual health conditions is. The lack of research and slow medical progress in women's health came up repeatedly. Hearing these experiences made the data we work with feel more human and urgent.

The feedback from attendees showed that the event was both engaging and informative. Many said they had learned more about menstrual issues and the Free to Bleed project, and that the key findings were valuable. The talk by Neelam Heera-Shergill and the lived experiences shared during the evening had a strong impact, and the creative aspects were particularly enjoyable. Attendees also expressed interest in future phases of the project and in continuing conversations around menstrual justice.

From a personal perspective, supporting the Free to Bleed event at the Vagina Museum was a meaningful experience. It brought together creativity, community and advocacy in a way that made menstrual justice feel both urgent and hopeful. I am grateful to everyone who attended and shared their stories. The event has strengthened my commitment to this work, and I am excited to continue contributing to the project in the weeks ahead.