The Clothesline Project is a national and global effort that started in Hyannis, Massachusetts in the fall of 1990.
T-shirts are hung on a clothesline and displayed publicly during various community events. Each shirt is decorated in an individual and unique way by a survivor of sexual violence or by someone in the community who cares about survivors and about the issue of sexual violence. This visual representation provides an opportunity to openly and honestly examine what is happening every day in our communities.
The purpose of the original Clothesline Project was to provide a national network of support, encouragement and information for communities to begin their own Clothesline Project. It was also designed and created to allow individuals and communities to bear witness to survivors, to help with the healing process and to educate and raise awareness about the extent of sexual violence.
In December 2005, Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM) initiated a Midcoast specific ‘Clothesline Project.’ Survivors and advocates who support survivors were invited to create a t-shirt and the project’s debut took place in April 2006 during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault also has a Clothesline Project that is available for statewide community events and gatherings.