The art of loitering around your city and how it can build community, connection
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I love walking, and think it can change the world, but I hate wellbeing walks. I’m more interested in how walking can connect us to the places we dwell and the people we dwell with.
As a disabled person, wellbeing narratives frequently ignore my needs. They assume a standard body and often have a moralistic or bossy tone. They can ignore individual access needs and structural inequalities.
My walking is slow and sometimes painful. It is made possible by the NHS, orthotics (specialised, removable shoe inserts) and wider social infrastructure: from benches to public transport. “Walking” must be inclusive of wheelchairs, orthotics and other assistive technology. I believe everyone should have the right to walk and take up space on the streets.
Walking together can be a powerful way to critically engage with our environment and feel a sense of belonging. I have been exploring this idea in my art, activism and academic research, which has been bought together in The Feminist Art of Walking.
On a monthly basis for almost 20 years I have stood in Manchester and waited to see who will join me for a walk. I share the invitation widely, it’s open to anyone and always free to join. There is a meeting point but scant other...