Mothers Without Hands: A Powerful Procession for International Women’s Day in Folkestone
On 8th March 2025, the streets of Folkestone will come alive with a striking and symbolic procession as Take Up Space Festival joins forces with multidisciplinary artist Tereza Bušková present Mothers without Hands. More than just a performance, this public act of ritual and resistance will see local communities come together to reclaim lost traditions, challenge violence against women and girls, and celebrate resilience through art.
Tereza Buskova – image by Carl Gibbons
A Ritual of Strength and Survival
The heart of the procession will be three ‘bread women’—figures clad in baked bread armour, carrying handcrafted totems infused with protective symbolism. Accompanied by the haunting vocals of folk singer Karolina Wegrzyn, the event will begin with a sand pouring ritual led by Bušková, setting the stage for a visually and emotionally charged journey through Folkestone’s streets.
Rooted in Slavic folklore and ancient Czech rituals, Mothers without Hands is inspired by a Brothers Grimm tale where a heroine’s hands are severed and magically restored—a powerful metaphor for oppression, survival, and reclaiming agency. The project also revives a Czech women’s ritual once used as a symbol of protest and protection, banned by the Nazis and later suppressed under Communism. Through this contemporary reimagining, Bušková and her collaborators invite communities to reclaim these lost traditions as a means of empowerment and solidarity.
A Community-Led Celebration
This participatory performance is the result of a series of creative workshops held in Folkestone, where women and non-binary participants have crafted the symbolic bread sculptures that will feature in the procession. The project forms the UK launch of Mothers without Hands, which will unfold across Folkestone, Birmingham, Walsall, Brno, and Prague throughout 2025.
Bušková explains: “The project raises awareness of physical, sexual, and domestic violence against women and girls, using folklore-inspired rituals and collective art-making as a means of empowerment, dialogue, and healing. The Folkestone procession will be filmed and later screened in Folkestone, Erdington, and Walsall.”
Take Up Space: Making Room for Women’s Voices
Now a key fixture of Folkestone’s cultural calendar, Take Up Space Festival celebrates International Women’s Day with an annual programme of art, performance, and discussion. Following the success of last year’s research and development phase, the festival is proud to bring Mothers without Hands back to the town in 2025.
The festival team shares: “We’re thrilled to welcome Tereza and the Mothers without Hands project back to Folkestone. This year, we are expanding our engagement with the local community, creating a powerful and timely project that speaks to women and girls.”
Join the Procession
Everyone is invited to take part in this moving tribute to resilience, heritage, and collective strength. The Mothers without Hands procession takes place on Saturday, 8th March 2025, starting at midday outside Folkestone Museum.
For more information on how to get involved, visit Take Up Space Festival or follow Tereza Bušková’s work on Instagram.
This is more than just a performance—it’s a public act of defiance, remembrance, and hope.
Main Image credit: Dee Patel
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