Parlour: the next step

Following on from the success of Urban Creative's Kickstarter campaign (Homes for Homeless Youth), Urban.com.au would like to draw attention to another notable crowd funding campaign: Parlour's 'The Next Step' via Pozible. A strong proponent and advocate for equity within the architecture industry and the adoption of improved practices within the profession, Parlour needs support to continue to push ahead with their research, as well as the ongoing advancement and development of various programs and resources.

Parlour needs your support. Over the past three years Parlour has become an important ‘space to speak’; a strong and respected platform providing research, resources, advocacy and discussion about gender equity and architecture.

Parlour's Pozible page

As such Parlour is seeking assistance from sponsors, donors and supporters in the form of like-minded organisations, business and individuals who value and appreciate the work that they do. Parlour aims to raise AUD$25,000 by the 13th July deadline which will go towards the following:

• $5,000 – to develop the website into a responsive site, which is easily read on mobile devices. Parlour is a great site, but things move fast in the online world. Updating to a responsive site is particularly pressing as Google is downgrading non-responsive websites in its searches from June 2014.
• $10,000 – editor. Parlour has great content. This is carefully planned and commissioned. Funds raised through this project will contribute to the costs of commissioning and developing new content over the next year.
• $15,000 – subeditor. Parlour has high editorial standards and all content is carefully and professionally edited. This is part of our success so far. Professional subediting is vital to ongoing quality and the credibility of the publication.

In order to gain a better understanding of the work that Parlour produces, it's worth taking a moment to read through their Guides to Equitable Practice, which have been developed with a view towards making Australian architecture a more equitable profession for all.

The architecture firm of the future ­– with increased flexibility, meaningful part-time work, acceptable career breaks and reasonable hours ­– will benefit us all. Many of the challenges that face women in architecture also affect men, however they tend to impact on women in exaggerated ways.

Parlour: Parlour Guides to Equitable Practice

As someone who works in an architectural practice on a part-time basis, supplemented by my work with Urban.com.au, I can't begin to emphasize enough the importance of feeling encouragement and support from your workplace to pursue other interests and activities outside the demands of your role within the office environment. For some of my colleagues and peers this also translates to time dedicated solely to their families.

At the time of writing 119 supporters have pledged a total of $17,365 (or 69% of the target). With only 11 days to go, let's help get them over the line. Watch the video below and pledge your support!

About Parlour

Parlour is a site for active exchange and discussion, bringing together research, informed opinion and resources on women, equity and architecture in Australia. It seeks to expand the spaces and opportunities available to women while also revealing and celebrating the many women who already contribute to the industry in diverse ways.

Parlour is an Incorporated Association. Its aims are as follows:

1. To promote gender equity in architecture.
2. To develop advocacy programs and resources based in independent, rigorous research.
3. To provide a vital space for the discussion of gender equity in architecture and publish informed opinion and generate debate and discussion.
4. To develop and strengthen networks and communities of interest around the issue of gender equity in Australian architecture.
5. To celebrate women active in the architecture profession, and to provide opportunity and profile for the many women working successfully in architecture.

The Parlour website is curated and edited by Justine Clark, with support from co-editors Naomi Stead, Karen Burns, Sandra Kaji-O’Grady, Julie Willis, Amanda Roan and Gill Matthewson. Parlour was initiated as part of the Australian Research Council-funded research project Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architecture Profession: Women, Work, and Leadership.

For more information, check out the Parlour website: http://archiparlour.org/