What is a Silent Witness Exhibit?
Thank you for choosing to create a Silent Witness Exhibit for your community. For the past twenty years, the Exhibits have been the most powerful way to honor those whose lives were lost in acts of domestic violence and to begin the healing process through awareness, education and treatment programs in hundreds of communities across the America and several other countries, worldwide.
The Exhibit is a visual representation consisting of life-sized, red laminated silhouette's of the women, men and children murdered in acts of domestic violence during a specific period of time within each state, county or city. The year or geographic location you choose is the beginning of a memorial to those who lost their lives due to domestic violence perpetrated by a spouse or former spouse, partner or former partner, parent, step-parent, relative or known person. Once you have determined the demographics of your exhibit, invite other's to join a committee. The goal of each Exhibit is to create an engaging display that will rally community support to grieve the losses of human life, create awareness and education materials and programs by collaborating with concerned and passionate members of your local community.
When to have an exhibit
You can have an exhibit any time of the year that it is needed. In addition, there are also some months that fit especially well with having an exhibit.
Jan: Stalking Awareness Month
Feb: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
March: Women's History Month
April: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Child Abuse Awareness Month
Oct: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Cyber security Awareness Month
Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
The Exhibit is a visual representation consisting of life-sized, red laminated silhouette's of the women, men and children murdered in acts of domestic violence during a specific period of time within each state, county or city. The year or geographic location you choose is the beginning of a memorial to those who lost their lives due to domestic violence perpetrated by a spouse or former spouse, partner or former partner, parent, step-parent, relative or known person. Once you have determined the demographics of your exhibit, invite other's to join a committee. The goal of each Exhibit is to create an engaging display that will rally community support to grieve the losses of human life, create awareness and education materials and programs by collaborating with concerned and passionate members of your local community.
When to have an exhibit
You can have an exhibit any time of the year that it is needed. In addition, there are also some months that fit especially well with having an exhibit.
Jan: Stalking Awareness Month
Feb: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
March: Women's History Month
April: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Child Abuse Awareness Month
Oct: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Cyber security Awareness Month
Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
ON CAMPUS
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IN YOUR COMMUNITY
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How Do You Pay For a Witness?
On average, it costs about $100 per witness to create them. This includes the materials to build the witness such as plywood and paint, and promotional materials such as creating banners, brochures, luminary candles, and program book. While it might seem overwhelming for inexperienced fundraising, the reality is anyone can obtain the resources needed.
We have some great ideas on creating an exhibit with donated materials or fundraising to purchase the materials. Check out the “Fundraising Ideas For Your Witness Event” on our website.
What Materials Do We Need?
Thorough-Graphic Signs, Inc.
c/o John Cox
PO Box 1355
Lexington, KY 4058
Shields are approximately $50 each plus shipping and handling.
An alternative to wooden Witnesses is to make them from cardboard. Some projects have made temporary Silent Witnesses out of cardboard or foam until they have been able to raise the money or generate the donations to create the permanent Witnesses out of wood.
Prefer to Purchase Ready-made Witnesses Instead?
For whatever the reason, if you would prefer to purchase witnesses already cut and painted, they are available for $125 from several sources. Click here to see where you can order them.
Stories of Local Victims
An important requirement for creating Silent Witnesses is that the murder must be a domestic violence homicide with a conviction or pending conviction. The language used on the shield can only indicate the perpetrator of a DV homicide if it meets the criteria above. Stories can be researched through local news media as well as your local Attorney General’s office. Some states have this information available through the Attorney General's webpage but in many cases it requires some research on the part of the chapter or state organizer to write the stories for the shields. This is also a great opportunity to reach out to victim’s families. Depending on their healing journey, Witness families might like to be involved in your event.
Creating The Storybook
Many events create a storybook that has a summary of each Witness story. This can be a powerful tool to use during your event that serves as a reminder of how special each victim can be.
Silent Witness has a template that you can download and have printed locally. Consider asking a local printer to donate the printing of the booklet, or see if a corporation will provide a gift to underwrite costs.
To view the storybook template, click here
On average, it costs about $100 per witness to create them. This includes the materials to build the witness such as plywood and paint, and promotional materials such as creating banners, brochures, luminary candles, and program book. While it might seem overwhelming for inexperienced fundraising, the reality is anyone can obtain the resources needed.
We have some great ideas on creating an exhibit with donated materials or fundraising to purchase the materials. Check out the “Fundraising Ideas For Your Witness Event” on our website.
What Materials Do We Need?
- Click here for patterns
- 1 sheet 1/2” plywood (makes 2 Witnesses)
- Red/Black and primer paints (Sherwin Williams) – this paint is actually more expensive but it is outdoor heavy duty and will help protect the Witnesses from the elements
- Paint rollers, brushes and rags
- Durable Velcro adhesive to attach the shield (this makes the shield removable for protection during transport)
- 2” carriage bolts with nuts (4 per Witness to hold stand to figure)
- Paper template for cutting out the Witness (see the Diagram Measurement Outline on the website under Materials List
- Golden Shields :To identify which Witnesses need to be created, you will want to work with your local SW Coordinator. In many cases, the stories for the shields have already been written. Each shield represents a story of someone lost to domestic violence in your community. For some, the actual wording will need to be created for the shield.
Thorough-Graphic Signs, Inc.
c/o John Cox
PO Box 1355
Lexington, KY 4058
Shields are approximately $50 each plus shipping and handling.
An alternative to wooden Witnesses is to make them from cardboard. Some projects have made temporary Silent Witnesses out of cardboard or foam until they have been able to raise the money or generate the donations to create the permanent Witnesses out of wood.
Prefer to Purchase Ready-made Witnesses Instead?
For whatever the reason, if you would prefer to purchase witnesses already cut and painted, they are available for $125 from several sources. Click here to see where you can order them.
Stories of Local Victims
An important requirement for creating Silent Witnesses is that the murder must be a domestic violence homicide with a conviction or pending conviction. The language used on the shield can only indicate the perpetrator of a DV homicide if it meets the criteria above. Stories can be researched through local news media as well as your local Attorney General’s office. Some states have this information available through the Attorney General's webpage but in many cases it requires some research on the part of the chapter or state organizer to write the stories for the shields. This is also a great opportunity to reach out to victim’s families. Depending on their healing journey, Witness families might like to be involved in your event.
Creating The Storybook
Many events create a storybook that has a summary of each Witness story. This can be a powerful tool to use during your event that serves as a reminder of how special each victim can be.
Silent Witness has a template that you can download and have printed locally. Consider asking a local printer to donate the printing of the booklet, or see if a corporation will provide a gift to underwrite costs.
To view the storybook template, click here