Right to the City is a participatory research programme led by Publica CIC that explores how women, girls, and non-binary people experience public space in the City of London, particularly after dark, and how their voices can shape safer, more inclusive urban environments. The programme is funded by the City of London’s CIL Neighbourhood Fund.

Between March and July 2025, the programme engaged with over 320 women, girls and non-binary people in the City, listening to their lived experiences through four artist-led night walks and a Youth Design Challenge.

Participants’ testimonies directly informed 25 recommendations developed by Publica to help organisations and institutions across the City address gender inclusion and safety. The recommendations were shaped alongside a 41-member Advisory Board, including the City of London Police, the City of London Corporation, the Barbican, and the London Museum.

A new film documents the action research and findings of the artist-led night walks alongside young people’s visions for the City. It was produced as part of the programme’s next phase, the Right to the City Roadshow, which aims to generate the recommendations into sustained action.

The film was first screened by Founding Director Lucy Musgrave at the Bradford Planning for Women and Girls conference, during her session titled Gender Inclusive Public Space: putting theory into practice.

The film draws on participants’ conversations, writings, creations and artworks during workshops led by artists Belinda Zhawi, Beth Allen, Clara Fran, Louisa Tan and María Venegas Rabá. It was edited by Imogen Putler, with original footage and photography by Anna-Rose McChesney, Fiona Freund and Imogen Putler, and animation by Stina Wahlén.