International Women’s Week Events in Tower Hamlets, London – 6-14 March 2010

Supported by Tower Hamlets Council and Tower Hamlets Partnership

VOICE – Votes for Women – looking at the past and to the future

During International Women’s Week in Tower Hamlets a diverse range of community and women’s groups across the borough will be focusing their celebrations on Women and the Vote. Events will explore the history of women’s involvement in politics – from the struggle for emancipation to 2010 – and a look at what the future holds. The underlying aim of the events will be to inspire those unheard women’s voices in our communities to be heard and encourage women to use their vote.

Saturday 6 March

Women’s Appreciation Day
ELM Women’s Link, Muslimaat UK, Rainbow House Children’s Centre London Muslim Centre, 46-92 Whitechapel Road E1 1JX
10.30am-3pm FREE 020 7650 3000/3022

Exhibition about Women in Politics throughout history focusing on key women of achievement, the Suffragette movement, recent women Prime Ministers, and emerging figures. Invited guest speakers will discuss issues affecting local women and how they have made changes happen, stalls with information providing support and advice, and refreshments.

Monday 8 March

International Women’s Day Tea Party
The Teasmith
6 Lamb Street, Spitalfields E1 6EA
2pm-4pm FREE 020 7247 1333

Come and enjoy a wide range of teas with special tea tasting sessions and cakes to celebrate International Women’s Day. www.teasmith.co.uk

‘Fragments’ exhibition of drawings by Juliette Vivier
www.juliettevivier.com
Open 6 March – 4 April 11am-6pm each day.

Discover London
Lincoln Area Regeneration Group
The Linc Centre, 70 Fern Street, Bow E3 3PR
10am-3.30pm Tkts £1.00 020 7538 2553
In collaboration with Belton Way Children’s Centre, Taakulo Somali Organisation, Bow Common Bangladeshi Cultural Association.

Coach Trip to the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street to take a look at the past, present and future electoral journey of women against the back-drop of some of London’s historical and present houses of power. There will be a special tour guide and translators. Event open to all. Tickets allocated on a first come first served basis.

Tuesday 9 March

Culture Kitchen
Women’s Environmental Network (WEN), Zacchaeus Project,
Walter Newby Centre, Bethnal Green Methodist Church,
Approach Road, E2 9JP
10.30am-3.30pm FREE 020 7481 9004

Event highlighting the need to give women a voice about climate change. Workshops and activities will offer women the opportunity to learn more about the issues and how to express themselves creatively about their own experiences in relation to climate change. The event will be fun with positive, practical ideas of what women can do around food and food growing and provide a showcase for what has already been achieved. The aim is to raise awareness of gender and climate change issues. Includes tour of community garden and refreshments.

Training Workshops For Chinese Women
East London Chinese Community Centre
Trussler Hall, 78 Grundy Street E14 6DF
1pm-3pm FREE 020 7538 5528

Training workshops on 9, 10 and 11 March for women in the Chinese Community to discuss the nature of democracy and provide a basic understanding of political ideologies and voting rights. The workshops are aimed at Chinese women in Tower Hamlets to encourage them to vote and understand British government and will be conducted in Chinese so that participants may discuss & debate political issues.

Visit & Tour The Houses Of Parliament
Heba Women’s Project
164 Brick Lane E1 6RU
9.30am-2pm FREE 07960 124262

There will be two group visits to the Houses of Parliament on 9 and 10 March with a guided tour focusing on the history of women in politics. There are 20 places available on each visit open to Heba beneficiaries and women from the general public. At Heba during International Women’s Week they will also be discussing the struggle of the Suffragettes and looking at different electoral systems around the world.

Women And Politics
Neighbours in Poplar and SPLASH Politics
St Vincent’s Portacabin, Gill Street, Poplar E14 0EH (9 March)
Will Crooks Community Centre, 1-3 Wigram House, Wades Place E14 0DB (10 March) 12pm-2.30pm FREE 020 7515 8362

Two events on 9 & 10 March in local Community Centres with music and stalls and local Councillors sharing their journey into politics. These events will be focusing particularly but not exclusively on Somali and Bengali women who will be asked about issues on which they would like to have a voice.

Achieving Vision & Change
Pritchard Road Day Centre
Marian Place, off Pritchard Road, Bethnal Green E2 9AX
11am-3pm FREE 020 7364 1032

A fun, interactive day with entertainment and an exhibition looking at why women accessing mental health services are less likely to use their right to vote and how to encourage them. An opportunity to share experiences and participate in a survey about future voting processes. Raffle & Refreshments.

Women…Vote!
St Hilda’s East Community Centre
18 Club Row, E2 7EY
11am-2.30pm FREE 020 7739 8066
In partnership with Friends of Arnold Circus, Bishopsgate Institute, The Women’s Library and Bethnal Green Collaboration Project.

This event will creatively express the importance of women’s right to vote and include an exhibition ‘Women…Vote!’ exploring the historical context of women’s fight for the right to vote, a poster making workshop using the theme of the exhibition, and guest speakers. The event will also seek to find out how women perceive women leaders of today as compared to those of the past. A mock election will enable women to vote on which female role model would be best to rule the UK today.

Women’s Multicultural Dance Day
St Nicks Lunch Club, Neighbours in Poplar, Poplar HARCA
Aberfeldy Centre, Aberfeldy Street E14 ONE ( 9 March)
Burcham St Centre, 96 Burcham Street E14 0SH (12 March)
11.30am-2pm FREE 07947 798685

Events for older women. Come along for an afternoon of dancing delights, learn some Bollywood, ballroom or even line dancing, have a free light lunch and find out about women in politics.

Wednesday 10 March

Women And Democracy
Jagonari WERC and Wapping Women’s Centre
183-185 Whitechapel Road E1 1DW
10am-1pm FREE 020 7375 0520

Two seminars will be run on 10 & 11 March, one in English, one in Bengali, about Women and Democracy. These events are targeted at women and young girls in the Bangladeshi community. Guest speakers will include local women Councillors and there will be workshops on democracy and the role of women in a democratic society with an emphasis on equality and voting.

A Women’s Day
Kollun, 55 Ben Jonson Road, E1 4SA
9.30am-3.30pm FREE 020 7790 0010

Local women Councillors and the Prospective Parliamentary Candidates have been invited to be on a panel to discuss local issues of concern to women and the importance of voting. Power point presentations and posters about women in politics, with refreshments.

Enterprising Women Of Tower Hamlets
Stitches in Time, Limehouse Project
Dora Hall, Dora Street E14
11am-4pm FREE 020 7987 6163

Celebrating local women and the vote past and present with textile workshops, guest speakers, a display of inspirational work and a healthy lunch. Participants will be able to create their own fabric badge, sewn and decorated, about voting in order to encourage women to vote in the forthcoming elections. A textile screen will also be created with the image of Sylvia Pankhurst.

Wisewords Poetry Open Mic Night With Apples & Snakes
Vibe Live @ the Vibe Bar, Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane E1 6QL
7.30pm Adm £3 on door (£2 for those doing floor spots) 020 7247 3479

Get your VOICE heard at the all-female open mic night. If you fancy yourself as the next big thing on the poetry scene, jive on down to Vibe Live at the Vibe Bar and take the proverbial mic (but arrive in good time to ensure a slot). Fronted by the buoyant LIZ BENTLEY (‘A female Ivor Cutler’ – The Scotsman), and featuring guest artists LUCY LEAGRAVE and DEANNA RODGER, this is another hot product from top poetry promoters Apples & Snakes www.applesandsnakes.org 020 8465 6154

Traning Workshops For Chinese Women (see Tuesday)

Visit & Tour The Houses Of Parliament (see Tuesday)

Women And Politics (see Tuesday)

Thursday 11 March

Print Your Slogan Prick Your Finger
260 Globe Road, E2 0JD
4pm-7pm FREE 020 8981 2560

Prick Your Finger are working with local groups who wish to voice the concerns of isolated women in Tower Hamlets, and hand printing their slogans in big bold letters, in any language, on to bags or T-Shirts. Stencil prints will be made by PYF and participants will choose the colours, sign their slogans and customise their items with embroidery or drawing. The prints will form a window display at the Prick Your Finger shop during International Women’s Week and a Preview with all the groups will be held on Thursday 11 March 4pm-7pm. All welcome.

Inspirational Women
John Scurr Community Centre
1a Bekesbourne Street, Limehouse E14 7JQ
10am-2pm FREE 020 7790 3113

Exhibition of photography by local women about Julia Scurr, Sylvia Pankhurst and the Suffragettes and a video about the major historical events that took place locally – ‘Poplar Rates Rebellion’ 1921, ‘Battle of Cable Street’ 1936 – and made positive changes. From 12noon-2pm local Councillors Denise Jones & Rachael Saunders will attend and lead a panel discussion on the importance of voting.

Training Workshops For Chinese Women (see Tuesday)

Women & Democracy (see Wednesday)

Friday 12 March

Women Vote Now!
Poplar Harca, LARG, Indymedia 3, Ocean Somali Community Association
Burdett Centre, Masjid Lane, off Walwood Street E14 7BW
11am-3pm FREE 020 7538 2553

Celebration and Open Day with presentation and performance about the Suffragette movement by young women from local youth group and a mock polling station. Officers from the Electoral Reform Services will give advice and guidance on voting, the importance of registering and using your vote. Guest of honour Sarah Castro MBE will open the proceedings and speak about her experience of women’s voting rights in Cuba and her personal struggle and the importance of exercising your right to vote. There will also be stalls, refreshments, exercise demonstrations, dancing and a crèche.

Women’s Celebration Day
Somali Women’s Development Project
Tredegar Community Centre, 333 Morville Street E3 2DD
12 noon-4pm FREE 020 8980 9935

A celebration with the local Somali Women’s Community and Bangladeshi Women’s Group for all local residents and their families with cultural activities and local Councillors.

Wisewords Bookfest 12 & 13 March

Women’s Multicultural Dance Day (see Tuesday)

Saturday 13 March

Make A Difference
Account 3, LEC
3 Birkbeck Street E2 6JY
2.30pm-4.30pm FREE 020 7739 7720

Seminar for local women on practical local politics, showing how most non-career politicians have entered politics through a burning passion for a political issue, and how to make a difference and have a say locally; with representatives from local RSLs, the PCT and local authority to demonstrate the range of ways you can have your say. Exhibition and activities for young people on ‘Women in Politics’ followed by a workshop looking at issues of exclusion and making a difference. Please book your places in advance. Crèche available.

Somali Women And Politics
Somali Integration Team
Bancroft TMC, 12 Wickford Street E1 5QN
12noon-4pm FREE 020 7790 2650

Event to motivate and support women and their understanding of politics with young Somali poet and stories about how women in Britain fought for the right to vote and the challenges and barriers that they faced. Dancing, Singing & Refreshments. All women welcome.

Sunday 14 March

Bangladeshi Women’s Stories
Bishwo Shahitto Kendro
1 Woodham Gardens, Vallance Road E1 5BN
2pm-4pm FREE 07984427989

Come and tell us your story about the day you first voted. A group of Bangladeshi women will share their experiences and focus on the barriers they faced to voting. Guest speakers include Rushanara Ali (Labour Party candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow) and Baroness Pola Uddin who will describe their personal political journeys. The Suffragette movement of East London based at 198 Bow Road and lead by Sylvia Pankhurst and Zolie Emerson will be discussed and Victoria sponge cake and tea will be served in their honour.

Please note that this programme of events in Tower Hamlets for International Women’s Week may be subject to alteration and it is advisable to ring and check beforehand. All venues are accessible to wheelchair users.

To receive this information in large print please contact: info@alternativearts.co.uk.

The International Women’s Week programme is co-ordinated for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets by Alternative Arts.

For any updates or to download a copy of the programme go to http://www.alternativearts.co.uk/events

wisewords exhibitions – London – throughout March 2010

CHICCHI ART LOUNGE 020 8141 4190
516 Roman Road, Bow E3 5ES
Bow tube www.chicchi.co.uk
Mon-Fri 8am-7pm Sat 8am-6pm FREE
Until 21 March
JANE LACK My World

ELEVEN SPITALFIELDS 020 7247 1816
11 Princelet Street, Spitalfields E1 6QH
Liverpool St tube www.elevenspitalfields.com
Tues-Sun 12noon-6pm FREE
5 – 25 March
CAROL SHARP Paradigm Shifts
This show challenges the widely held assumption that a photograph is a piece of the world, which needs to be identified and interpreted before we know how to react to it. www.carolsharp.co.uk

IMT GALLERY 020 8980 5475
Unit 2/210 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9NG
Bethnal Green tube
Thurs-Sun 12noon-6pm FREE
Until 4 April
NAOKO TAKAHASHI An Exploration of Perforated Space in Four Segments of Words
A new commission by Japanese performance and installation artist Naoko Takahashi. The exhibition takes the form of a fictional park created in corrugated cardboard, complete with large stylised tree under which visitors hear autobiographical stories of the everyday East End, both heartfelt and uncomfortable, performed by Takahashi.
ARTISTS TALK Sat 6 March, 6pm-9pm FREE
Takahashi in conversation with Kristen Kreider, Harriet Murray & Neil Taylor.

LOBBY 020 7418 5527
One Canada Square, E14 5AB
Canary Wharf tube. http://www.mycanarywharf.com
Mon-Fri 5.30am-midnight, Sat & Sun 7am-11.30pm FREE
Until 19 March
GLENYS BARTON SCULPTURE
Ceramic and bronze sculptures by Glenys Barton feature in the first exhibition of the 2010 ‘Sculpture in the Workplace’ series at One Canada Square. The exhibition focuses on human forms which bear the influence of ancient civilisations.
ARTISTS TALK Tues 2 March 1.15pm FREE
Glenys Barton in conversation with curator Ann Elliott.

PHOTO-SPACE 020 7375 0441
530 Commercial Road E1 0HY
Limehouse DLR. http://www.alternativearts.co.uk
Tues-Sat 11am-6pm FREE
5 – 27 March
LAURA BRAUN, HEATHER McDONOUGH, MELANIE STIDOLPH
The Anachronistic Album curated by Zuzana Flaskova
Three women photographers have invited an emerging curator to respond to their work which jointly represents over 50 years production. The curator’s choices will create imaginary narratives across the artist’s practice, re-evaluating the work and discovering visual connections and disparities.

SHIPTON STREET GALLERY 020 7729 3739
4 Haig House, Shipton Street E2 7RZ
Liverpool St/Old St/Bethnal Green tube http://www.shiptonstreetgallery.co.uk
Sundays 10am-2pm or by appointment FREE
6-31 March
ANTONELLA FABIANI 6×6
2005-2009 Travels: Photography on medium format film (6×6)

THE STUDIO 077435 72100
3 Ravenscroft Street, off Hackney Road E2 7SH
Old Street tube/55,48,26 bus
Fri & Sat 12noon-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm FREE
12-14 March
NOTEBOOK 2
Artists Heather McDonough, Melanie Stidolph & Laura Braun open up their studio to show work in progress. Reflecting on the process of selection and re-evaluation essential in the development of long and short term projects. www.thestudionotebook.blogspot.com

THE TEASMITH 020 7247 1333
6 Lamb Street, Spitalfields E1 6EA
Liverpool St tube. http://www.teasmith.co.uk
Mon-Sun 11am-6pm FREE
6 March – 4 April
JULIETTE VIVIER Fragments
Influenced by her literature studies and a taste for graphic simplicity, her research leads towards experiment alongside her drawings, trying to reconcile the tension between abstraction and representation. www.juliettevivier.com

TROLLEY GALLERY 020 7729 6591
73a Redchurch Street E2 7DJ
Liverpool St/Old St tube. http://www.trolleybooks.com
Mon-Sat 12noon-6pm FREE
Until 13 March
BOO SAVILLE ‘Totem’
From 17 March
LAURENA TOLEDO ‘The Limit’

WHITECHAPEL GALLERY 020 7522 7888
77-82 Whitechapel High Street E1 7QX
Aldgate East tube. www.whitechapelgallery.org
Tues-Sun 11am-6pm, Thurs to 9pm FREE
Until 14 March
MELANIE MANCHOT: Celebration (Cyprus Street)
Drawing on traditions of group portraiture at public street parties, Melanie Manchot’s new work explores individual and collective identity through photography and film. She worked with residents of Cyprus Street E2 to hold a street party and make a film which is shown alongside a series of photographs and archive footage of street parties.

THE WOMEN’S LIBRARY 020 7320 2222
London Metropolitan University, Old Castle Street E1 7NT
Aldgate East tube http://www.thewomenslibrary.co.uk
Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Thurs until 8pm Sat 10am-4pm FREE
Until 17 April
MS UNDERSTOOD Women’s Liberation in 1970s Britain
A major exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first national Women’s Liberation Conference at Ruskin College Oxford. Ms Understood investigates the prelude, birth, rallies, media, fashion, politics, disagreements and victories of the movement. Explore the social, personal and cultural legacies of one of the most significant social movements of the 20th century.
GUIDED TOUR Thurs 4 & Sat 27 March 12pm (30mins) FREE
Find out more about this exciting period of women’s history.

Until 31 March
STRIKING WOMEN Voices of South Asian workers from Grunwick and Gate Gourmet
In 1976 and 2005 two significant labour disputes involved mainly South Asian women who protested against their sweatshop conditions. This display compares the two strikes and the role the media played, setting them in the context of the history of immigration to the UK.

Wisewords is produced by Alternative Arts 020 7375 0441
info@alternativearts.co.uk
www.alternativearts.co.uk

Wisewords is supported by Tower Hamlets Council and The Women’s Library and all the participating venues.

For any updates or to download a copy of the programme go to http://www.alternativearts.co.uk/events

wisewords events – London – 5-24 March 2010

wisewords events

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 020 7033 1544
Human Rights Action Centre
17-25 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch EC2 A 3EA
Liverpool St/Old St tube http://www.amnesty.org.uk

Monday 8 March 7pm: ‘Anyone here been raped and speaks English?’
– Memoirs of foreign correspondent Edward Behr (1978)
THE POTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN THE UK MEDIA
Why do media stories about women’s rights tend to focus on issues relating to their sexuality such as rape, sexual slavery, trafficking, child bearing or prostitution? These are important human rights issues but why is it that we so rarely see media coverage about women’s labour rights, freedom of speech or women imprisoned for their political beliefs?
To mark International Women’s Day Amnesty International hosts a discussion to consider this issue with a panel of women journalists including Samira Ahmed Channel 4 news presenter and Jenny Wood LOOK Magazine’s Features Editor.
This debate is part of Amnesty International’s Media Awards programme of events. Admission FREE. Booking http://www.amnesty.org.uk/events

Thursday 11 March 7pm: Who are you to speak?
‘Let your women keep silence….And if they will learn anything let them ask their husbands at home’ (1 Corinthians 14: v34-35)
THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM ON GAY AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS
In what promises to be lively discussion, three outspoken women discuss the impact of religious fundamentalism on gay and women’s rights and why they have chosen to challenge it through their art.
Writer Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti caused uproar amongst the local Sikh community when her play BEHZTI – a story which depicted a rape in a Sikh temple – opened in Birmingham in 2004. Violent protests followed and shortly afterwards, the play was closed down amidst much criticism from anti-censorship campaigners.
Artist Sarah Maple received death threats when her exhibition went on show at a west London gallery in 2008. Her portraits included a woman in a headscarf holding a pig, and a painting showing the artist in a headscarf with a bare breast. Despite having its window smashed, the gallery stayed open causing considerable anger to some members of the local Muslim community.
Playwright Jo Clifford’s play JESUS QUEEN OF HEAVEN staged as part of last year’s Glasgay arts festival caused widespread protests from Christian organisations and attracted 300 protesters to the opening night.
The opinions expressed by speakers at this event are not necessarily shared by Amnesty International UK.
Recommended age limit for this event is over 14 years.
Admission FREE. Booking http://www.amnesty.org.uk/events

BISHOP CHALLONER SCHOOL 07939 543900
Hardinge Street, Stepney E1 0EB. (entrance via Lukin St).
Wednesday 24 March 7pm: SANDRA A Film made by Phil Maxwell and Hazuan Hashim (2008)
A story of the life, struggle and survival of the East End’s most famous landlady, Sandra Esqulant, who’s been running the Golden Heart pub in Spitalfields for over 30 years. Adored by everyone around her, the film captures a slice of her life in one of the most fascinating areas of London. Listed as a highly influential figure in the art world, her wit, warmth and eccentricity leap out of the screen. (30mins)
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the makers.
Admission FREE. Bookings: snugent@bishop.towerhamlets.sch.uk

EASTSIDE BOOKSHOP 020 7247 0216
166 Brick lane E1 6RU
Aldgate East tube http://www.eastsidebooks.co.uk
Friday 5 March 6pm: THE HISTORY OF STEPNEY BOOKS
Denise Jones, Jenny Smith, Celia Stubbs and Anne Cunningham, the original founders of Stepney Books discuss Women’s Publishing in the East End since the 1970s.
Admission FREE. Refreshments

IDEA STORE WHITECHAPEL 020 7364 1742
321 Whitechapel Road E1 1BU Whitechapel tube
Wednesday 10 March 6.30pm: WORLDS APART: MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS
presented by Exiled Writers Ink
In Exile: The divide between cultures – between memory – between restriction and freedom – from the tongue of the mother with Alev Adil, Fatima Hagi,
Ziba Karbassi, Shereen Pandit.
Alev Adil was born in Cyprus and lives in London. Her first collection of poems ‘Venus Infers’ was published in 2004. She lectures at the University of Greenwich where she is head of the Department of Creative, Critical and Communication Studies. Fatima Hagi was born in Somalia and left during the civil war in 1991. She writes poetry and short stories. Her inspiration comes from her nomadic heritage. Ziba Karbassi was born in Tabiz, north western Iran. She had to leave in the mid 1980s and since then has lived mostly in London. She has published seven books of poetry in Persian and has been translated into many languages throughout Europe. Shereen Pandit is a London-based South African lawyer, political activist and writer whose short stories have won several prizes and appeared in many anthologies and magazines.
Admission £3 on door. Refreshments. http://www.exiledwriters.co.uk

RICH MIX 020 7613 7498
35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch E1 6LA
Liverpool St/Old St tube. http://www.richmix.org.uk
Monday 8 March 7.30pm: DIANA EVANS & BERNADINE EVARISTO
To celebrate International Women’s Day a panel of leading women writers talk about their work. Guests include Diana Evans, author of the award-winning ‘26a’ and winner of the Orange Prize for New Writers, with her latest novel THE WONDER which spans three generations from 1950s Jamaica to contemporary London, and Bernadine Evaristo MBE whose latest book HELLO MUM is published in March by Penguin and looks at teenage knife crime in the UK.
Admission £5. http://www.richmix.org.uk/bookings

THE TEASMITH 020 7247 1333
6 Lamb Street, Spitalfields E1 6EA
Liverpool St tube. http://www.teasmith.co.uk
Monday 8 March 2pm-4pm: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TEA PARTY
Come and enjoy a wide range of teas with special tea tasting sessions and cakes to celebrate International Women’s Day. All welcome.
Admission FREE

VIBE LIVE @ THE VIBE BAR 020 7247 3479
Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane E1 6QL
Aldgate East/Liverpool St tube http://www.vibe-bar.co.uk
Wednesday 10 March 7.30pm: WISEWORDS POETRY OPEN MIC NIGHT
with Apples & Snakes
If you fancy yourself as the next big thing on the poetry scene, jive on down to Vibe Live @ the Vibe Bar for our all-female open mic night (but arrive in good time to ensure a slot). Fronted by the buoyant Liz Bentley (‘a female Ivor Cutler’ – The Scotsman), and featuring guest artists Lucy Leagrave and Deanna Rodger, this is another hot product from top poetry promoters Apples & Snakes.
Admission £3 on door (£2 for those doing floor spots)
http://www.applesandsnakes.org 020 8465 6154

THE WOMENS LIBRARY 020 7320 2222
London Metropolitan University, Old Castle Street E1 7NT
Aldgate East tube http://www.thewomenslibrary.co.uk
Bookings: moreinfo@thewomenslibrary.ac.uk
Saturday 6 March 10am-5pm FREE: HEART OF THE RACE: Black Feminism in Britain
This day provides an overview of the rise of black British feminism in the 1970s, drawing on the Black Cultural Archives recent oral history project involving testimonies of the women involved in OWAAD (Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent) and other Black women’s groups.
In collaboration with Black Cultural Archives and London Metropolitan Archives.
This event will be taking place at the London Metropolitan Archives,
40 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell EC1 R 0HB
Admission FREE

Friday 12 & Saturday 13 March 2pm-10pm: WISEWORDS BOOKFEST

Saturday 13 March 11am: WONDERFUL WOMEN OF WHITECHAPEL AND SPITALFIELDS
Visit sites associated with women who have defined Whitechapel and Spitalfields. From Eva Luckes and Edith Cavell at the London Hospital to social reformers Annie Besant and Mary Hughes. Find out more about how artists and writers like Monica Ali and Tracey Emin have also used the area to inspire their work. (120 mins) £10

Saturday 20 March 10am-3.30pm: SELF PUBLISHING AND LIBERATION
Practical workshop about self-publishing with a particular focus on print-on-Demand technology. The workshop will feature historical testimony from Gail Chester and Amanda Sebestyen, who will speak about their involvement with publishing collectives in the Women’s Liberation Movement. You can participate in creative exercises that will arm you with the inspiration and tools to start publishing your own material. £10/£8 concs

For any updates or to download a copy of the programme go to http://www.alternativearts.co.uk/events

Walk For Tabita – Sunday 7 March 2010

On Sunday 7 March, to mark International Women’s Day, we are asking you to organise a walk for women’s health. It’s so easy to do – put the date in your diary and sign up to take part. We’ll send you our walks pack, with everything you need to set up your walk and start fundraising. You can register your walk if you are happy for us to share your details with other people interested in joining it.

Walk for Tabita

Around the world, women walk miles and miles every day, whether to collect water, tend fields, go to markets, or get medical assistance.

Tabita lives Sierra Leone. She was in labour for several hours at home with a traditional birth attendant, when she was advised to go to the health centre in the next district. When Tabita arrived at the centre, no-one there had the training to perform the caesarean section she needed.

Tabita set off for the district hospital, but the hospital lacked the equipment needed for the operation. Finally, Tabita arrived at Magbenteh Health Centre. By now, she had been in labour for three days. At Magbenteh, Tabita had an emergency caesarean section. Sadly, because Tabita had not received proper medical attention, her baby was already dead and Tabita was left with a lifelong disability.

How VSO is helping

The clinic where Tabita received life-saving treatment was set up with the help of VSO volunteer midwife, Zoe Vowles. Zoe is working with local colleagues to provide health education in the community. Local women and traditional birth attendants – who normally help deliver babies – are learning what to expect during pregnancy and recognise when to seek professional help.

VSO volunteers like Zoe are making a huge difference to the lives of women around the world.

How you can make a difference

Sign up for our Walk for Tabita on Sunday 7 March and raise awareness and sponsorship to support our life-changing work.

Arrange a walk with your friends and family or organise a bigger walk and get your local community involved. Or you can join a walk organised by one of our supporters near you.

By raising sponsorship, you and your friends will be helping VSO continue our vital health work with women like Tabita. You won’t just be raising money. You’ll be changing lives.

Join a walk:

March 5:

London (North Woolwich)
This walk from St John’s Community is on Friday 5 March (not Sunday 7) and likely to take approximately three hours.

March 7:

Aberdeen
A walk along up to the River Don, then back down to the River Dee.

Birmingham
Walk in Birmingham’s Sutton Park – a 5km circuit in the city’s biggest park (pushchair and wheelchair friendly) – with longer and shorter options through park or woodland. A choice of start times – 11am or 2.30pm.

Cambridge
A walk from Chesterton along the River Cam crossing to the village of Fen Ditton (approx five miles).

Cherry Willingham
A seven-mile walk around Cherry Willingham.

Cheshire
A walk along the Sandstone Trail which is easy hills, across farmland and along some country roads.

Cornwall
The coastal walk along the south-west path between Looe and Polperro.

Devon (Barnstaple)
Enjoy the beautiful views over the Barnstaple Estuary on this walk along the Tarka Trail.

Devon (near Riverford Bridge)
An easy 6 mile walk via Dartington to Totnes and back again

Exeter (Exe Quay)
Full details will be published here when confirmed.

Glasgow
Full details will be published here when confirmed.

Kenilworth
Our walk, starting by Kenilworth Castle, is six and half miles with a pub stop half way round. There is a shorter 2 mile walk option as well.

Keswick, Lake District
A walk starting at 11 am suitable for women of all ages and abilities up the wheelchair accessible path on Lattrigg Fell, near Keswick.

Lake District
Enjoy the stunning Lake District National Park with a walk starting in Keswick.

Lincoln
Take a walk around the Whisby Nature Park and enjoy its lakes, woodlands and wildlife. There will be a choice of six paths (most are suitable for wheelchairs and prams).

Liverpool (Albert Dock)
A six-mile walk starting from the historical Albert Dock.

London (Richmond Park)
Enjoy a walk around the largest Royal Park in London, home to hundreds of ancient oak trees and many species of birds.

Manchester
A walk around the dramatic Alderley Edge with great views over the Cheshire Plain.

North Worcestershire
A five-mile walk around Hanbury, North Worcestershire.

Northamptonshire (Pitsford Reservoir)
A variety of walks around the Pitsford Reservoir. The walk is perfect for walkers with buggies.

Shropshire Hills
Five miles around Bishop Castle.

Smethwick
Full details will be published here when confirmed.

Stirlingshire
A walk from Killearn to Blanefield along the ‘pipe track’.

Sussex (South Downs)
With stunning views over the South Downs, this sponsored walk starts and ends at Devil’s Dyke.

Westonbirt Arboretum
Explore the Silk Wood area in Westonbirt Arboretum with a choice of a 5km or 10km walk.

Yorkshire Wolds
A gentle stroll through the beautiful Wolds countryside.

Mar 14:

Oxfordshire (Northmoor Trust)
Take a walk around the beautiful Northmoor Trust Estate and see the oldest known planted hilltop beeches in England. This walk is on Sunday 14 March.

For contact details for these walks and to check others that may be added go to http://www.walkforvso.org.uk/join-a-walk/walks.asp#0

Or organise a walk http://www.walkforvso.org.uk/organise-a-walk/

Oxford International Women’s Festival 2010 – Grass Roots and Glass Ceilings – 28 Feb-14 March

The Oxford International Women’s Collective organises an annual festival taking place from February to March celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March.

The Festival celebrates the creativity of women through theatre, music, talks, exhibitions and workshops, while recognising the struggles for equal rights at work and at home, for trade union recognition, improved working conditions, good childcare facilities and for women’s voices to be heard.

The Festival celebrates Oxford women’s achievements in the arts, sciences, workplace and home. It aims to highlight women’s local, national and international issues and support individual women and organisations who are campaigning for equal rights. The Festival includes women of all races, backgrounds and interest groups. The Festival celebrates the many ways women contribute to Oxford’s social, economic, political and cultural life. This includes their contribution to women’s national and local issues.

Festival 2010 – Grass Roots and Glass Ceilings

• Sunday 28 February Festival Launch ‘Grass Roots and Glass Ceilings’
• Sunday 28 February – Sunday 14 March Grass Roots and Glass Ceilings Art Show
• Sunday 28 February – Saturday 13 March A Celebration of the Female Form: 100 Portraits of Women
• Sunday 28 February Women Anthropologists and the Pitt Rivers Museum
• Monday 1 March Grassroots Feminist Film Night
• Tuesday 2 March Birthrites
• Wednesday 3 March – Saturday 27 March Common Threads: Exhibition of Patchwork Panels
• Wednesday 3 March Oxford Amnesty International Women’s Group: From Grass Roots to Glass Ceilings
• Thursday 4 March Leading the Way from Grass Roots to Glass Ceilings
• Thursday 4 March Foursight Theatre and Talking Birds presents Forever in Your Debt
• Friday 5 March Every Woman Celebration Day
• Saturday 6 March Queer Oxford History Walk
• Saturday 6 March ‘Phenomenal Women’: Spotlight on Women of African Heritage
• Saturday 6 March Ceilidh with the Kismet Ceilidh Band
• Sunday 7 March Dissolving Spiritual Glass Ceilings
• Sunday 7 March Multicultural Textiles: Open Workshop and Exhibition of Work in Progress
• Monday 8 March Aung San Suu Kyi: Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Burma
• Tuesday 9 March Dorothy Hodgkin Memorial Lecture Centenary Celebration
• Tuesday 9 March Let’s Talk about Sex!
• Tuesday 9 March Red Box – Where Women Meet
• Wednesday 10 March Creative Women, Creative Children
• Wednesday 10 March Redbridge Traveller Women’s Group
• Thursday 11 March Angels with Aspirations
• Thurs 11 March Strictly Latin American
• Friday 12 March Women’s Liberation @ 40 – Continuities and Changes
• Friday 12 March Creative Connection Women
• Friday 12 March Women Reaching Women Water Day
• Friday 12 March Reel Women Screening
• Saturday 13 March Women’s Liberation @ 40 – Continuities and Changes
• Saturday 13 March Hey Good Looking?
• Saturday 13 March Breaking Through
• Saturday 13 March Diversity and Rhythm
• Saturday 13 March The Good Grief it’s a Goddess… Banquet and Ball!
• Sunday 14 March ‘A Walk on the Wild Side’ at Wittenham Clumps

Check http://www.oxfordwomen.co.uk/Festival10.html

For further information about the Oxford International Women’s Festival contact:

Debbie Hollingsworth – Chair
Tel: 07812 350 892
Email: ruskin_ok@hotmail.com

Anne Mobbs – Treasurer/Fundraiser
Tel: 01865 553755
Email: am67@hotmail.co.uk

Christine Eady – Secretary/Co-ordinator
Tel: 01865 245793
Email: christine.eadywat@tiscali.co.uk

Celebrating International Women’s Day, 8th Mach 2010 – Fundraising for V-Day

Fundraising for Eve Ensler’s V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls
New Players Theatre, 5th to 20th March 2010

PRESS NIGHT: 5TH MARCH at 7.30pm

A showcase of feminine and feminist talent across theatre, comedy and film with talks and workshops, SYNT has exclusive rights to stage The Vagina Monologues and also presents A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer, a selection of monologues edited by Eve Ensler that includes the premiere of Maya Angelou’s Woman Work, as part of the City of Joy Gala on 20th March.

V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery.

PROGRAMME

THEATRE: The Vagina Monologues
5th at 7.30pm, 9th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 19th at 8pm, 20th 2.30pm,
£20 (£15 conc)
*UK EXCLUSIVE*

After a sell-out run in 2009, this newly reimagined version of Eve Ensler’s hilarious and provocative classic returns by special permission, exclusively granted in the UK to SYNT. Proceeds will benefit local and international charities working to end violence against women.

FILM: Until The Violence Stops
14th March 3pm,
£6
*UK EXCLUSIVE*

Extraordinarily empowering and heartbreakingly funny, this Sundance favourite chronicles how Eve Ensler’s hit off-Broadway solo show The Vagina Monologues grew into V-Day, an international grassroots movement to stop violence against women and girls. Proceeds will benefit local and international charities working to end violence against women. 70mins

THEATRE: Up The Café de Paris
8th, 10th and 11th March 8pm, 9th and 12th March 6pm,
£20 (£15 conc)

A cast of two women deftly recreate a myriad of characters in a journey that reaches its climactic conclusion as the Café de Paris is razed to the ground by a bomb attack on 8th March 1941. Created by Hannah Kimpton, Andi Osho and Lewis Barfoot.

CABARET: See You Next Tuesday Late Night Lucky Dip Cabaret
9th and 16th March 10pm,
£10

Featuring the best of burlesque, scintillating circus acts, sketch comedy, musical variety, and more, these late-night grab-bag events offer an hour of non-stop entertainment, including Circus duo Will Davis, Jackie Le of Aerialism and Alicia Clarke of the Volupte Lounge.

COMEDY: Funny Women: Stand Up to Stand Out Workshop
11th March, 5.30pm
£35

Find your comic voice: Stand Up to Stand Out lets women to explore their funny side to build self confidence, improve relationships and enhance communications. Over the last seven years over 1,000 women have found their comic voice through these Funny Women workshops which help to improve confidence and communication skills by working with other women to explore how empowering a humorous approach to life can be

WORKSHOP: Funny Women: Writers and Performers Forum,
13th March, 3pm
£25

In the run up to this year’s Funny Women Awards, recognising that women are natural collaborators, Funny Women are hosting an event where performers and writers can interact. Special guests include women who are both writers and performers – Janice Connolly (Mrs Barbara Nice), Kiki Kendrick, Carrie Quinlan and Meryl O’Rourke. The evening will be hosted by Annabel Giles.

TALK: Funny Women: Not Just A Pretty Face
15th March, 5.30pm
£25

Veteran comedy producers Funny Women take on the ‘airbrush culture’ of big media in this Cultural Change Forum, featuring guest speakers from across media disciplines, including television, radio and print.

COMEDY: Funny Women presents: Sex Lies and Lots of Cake
18th March, 8pm
£15 (£12 conc)

The comedy show that gives a girl everything she wants in one easy package – stand up, sketch and music with a bit of hanky panky.

THEATRE: Lady In Bed
14th March 8pm
£12

Fresh from the Camden Fringe, this one-woman autobiographical show takes the audience on a quest for love and sexual adventure from the 1970’s to the present. Critically acclaimed writer and performer Alison Goldie plays all the characters in this lively, funny and moving tour de force.

THEATRE: Belly Dancing For Beginners
14th March 6pm,
£10

Six women living in a rural English village find their lives changed forever by the arrival of a mysterious Egyptian woman and her belly dancing classes. She pushes them to understand themselves, but can they understand each other? An exotic journey into love, friendship and bellydancing…

THEATRE / MUSIC: City of Joy: Gala for the Women of the Congo,
20th March 8pm
£25

Gala fundraiser for the City of Joy, a one-of-a-kind safe house and empowerment centre for survivors of sexual violence in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, due to open in May 2010 and founded by V-Day and UNICEF. Featuring celebrity guest speakers, debut performances of new writing by Maya Angelou, Edward Albee, Lynne Nottage and more from the groundbreaking new compilation A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer, with a grand finale of music and dancing from Congolese powerhouse Kasai Masai.

WORKSHOP: Company FZ Workshop Hosted by Flick Ferdinando
13th March 11am – 1pm,
£20 (£18 concs)

A workshop on how to be ridiculous whilst keeping your dignity. Using clown and physical theatre techniques the participants will be lead through a short workshop by the experienced physical comedienne Flick Ferdinando.

FILM: Leaving + Q&A
15th March 8pm
£8

Winner of multiple awards, including Best Film (London Film Festival) this short film by Richard Penfold and Sam Hearn of Omni Productions stars Johnny Harris (London to Brighton, RocknRolla) and Keirston Wareing (Fish Tank, The Take) and explores the dangerously entangled cycle of an abusive relationship. Q+A with actors and domestic violence charity Woman’s Trust.

CABARET: All The King’s Men
11th and 12th March 10pm,
£10

Electrifying modern vaudeville from this wildly popular award-winning all-female cabaret troupe, playing over fifty gender-bending characters in an hour of pop-cultural satire, dance, scene work, storytelling, socio-political commentary, burlesque, multi-media, comedy and drama.

THEATRE: Tomboy Blues
19th March 10pm,
£10

Fresh from the Barbican Theatre Plymouth, this powerful show explores what happens to the tomboys abandoned by 90% of women as they grow up in an hour of live art, theatre, faux science, storytelling, dance and song.

Further information: http://www.vday.org/ and http://www.newplayerstheatre.com/

TicketWeb 08444 771 000 / http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/ or

Soho Theatre 020 7478 0135 / http://www.sohotheatre.com/

Transport: Embankment