Parlour: women, equity, architecture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Parlour: women, equity, architecture is an organisation founded in 2012[1] as an advocacy group for gender equity in the architecture industry based in Australia.[2] Part of the work of Parlour is to undertake research producing both quantitative and qualitative findings and to generating debate to expand 'the spaces for women in Australian architecture'.[3]
Parlour has an editor and curator, currently Justine Clark. Co-editors include Naomi Stead, Karen Burns, Sandra Kaji-O’Grady, Julie Willis, Amanda Roan and Gill Matthewson.[2]
Parlour came from a research grant funded by the Australian Research Council with the launching of a website in 2012. The research was led by Naomi Stead (University of Queensland) was called Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architecture Profession: Women, Work and Leadership. Assisting were academics from the University of Melbourne, Justine Clark, Karen Burns and Julie Willis, the University of Queensland, Gill Matthewson, Amanda Roan and Gillian Whitehouse the University of Sydney, Sandra Kaji-O'Grady and the Queensland University of Technology, Susan Savage.[3] Industry partners also supporting this research were the Australian Institute of Architects, Architecture Media, Bates Smart, BVN and PTW Architects.[3][4]
The founders of Parlour were Justine Clark, Gill Matthewson, Naomi Stead, Susie Ashworth, Karen Burns and Julie Willis.[5] After the launch of the website it received over 17,000 unique browser visits in just the first three months.[6] In 2019 there were some changes in people with Burns leaving and Alison Cleary and Susie Ashworth joining. Alison McFadyen joined in 2022.[7]
Parlour became an organisation in 2015.[8]
Organisation
Parlour is an Incorporated Association with five aims that include the promotion of gender equity in architecture, education and advocacy programs and resources based in research, discussion, research and informed publishing of information and opinion and to celebrate and profile women working in architecture and built environment professions.[7] As part of being an Incorporated Association there is a president (Justine Clark), vice president (Naomi Stead), secretary (Alison McFadyen), treasurer (Gill Matthewson) and committee members (Susie Ashworth, Julie Willis, Alison Cleary and Sarah Lynn Rees).[7]
From 2019 – 2021 Parlour was sponsored by Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA).[1]