The Glass Bra is a Hampshire based project which creates a safe space for women to explore body positivity post cancer treatment, through casting, creating the glass and contributing to a larger exhibition. Participants are encouraged to explore creatively and reflect on their cancer journey, through the medium of glass - which represents the fragility of life.

Vikki Soanes (Verre by Victoria) was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and whilst going through extensive treatment she discovered a passion for glass art, she now dedicates her practice to empowering other women to explore creativity through their cancer journey creating glass bras.

The Glass Bra project will enable women to spend a day at the studio where Vikki will take 2 chest casts, one with the bra on and a second without. These moulds will be made into plaster, and then made into a more robust clay mould that will put in the kiln.

The rest of the day will be spent exploring glass, where the women will learn to cut glass, decorate it using frits, powders or paint, and create their own individual pane that represents them and their cancer journey, which will finally be slumped over the mould.

The process takes several weeks to complete and final pieces will be revealed at the exhibition during Breast Cancer Awareness month, titled "Behind the Bra"

It costs around £400 per person so this target is for 55 women to be cast, which is 0.1% of the women who will be diagnosed this year in the UK or representative of 10% of the women in North Hampshire (Basingstoke and Winchester**).

Additional funds would pay for more participants to take part and to take the exhibition to other cities to raise awareness.

The initial start up costs are £7k for the kiln, hiring space for 6 months and to build the workshop space. The other £22k is for the 55 women.

I know times are tough, but please consider giving what you can.

Thanks Vikki

*https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer/

** https://www.hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/az-departments-and-specialties/breast-unit?q=%2Four-services%2Faz-departments-and-specialties%2Fbreast-unit#:~:text=The%20breast%20unit%20at%20Hampshire,sites%20(Winchester%20and%20Basingstoke).