Bristol Women’s Voice presents a free day of activities, workshops, speakers and music to mark International Women’s Day at Bristol’s M Shed from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, March 12. The theme of the day is ‘Women Making A Difference’.
 
This is one day for women to come together and celebrate the many ways in which they make a difference in our lives, as well as the difference they make in our communities and further afield across the globe.
 
Penny Gane, Chair of Bristol Women’s Voice and Bristol Women’s Commission, said: “This international day of celebrations which acknowledge the huge and wide-ranging contributions that women have made, and continue to make, in our city and across the world. Celebrating these contributions will help make sure realizes its potential as a city where equality is paramount.”
 

Activities on the day

Bristol Women’s Voice is pleased to welcome back the popular Breathing Fire: a black women’s playback theatre group which will be running an interactive drama workshop exploring the different ways we communicate with each other. Bristol Women’s Voice also introduces Chango World, which will be providing women with an opportunity to learn traditional African drumming, while Refugee Women of Bristol will be teaching women traditional dances from cultures around the world.
 
Saffron Records and Bristol Women in Music will host sessions on songwriting and mixing, where women of all ages and abilities can learn to mix music together, support one another and perform with each other.
 
There will be a lunchtime panel debate looking at women’s representation in the media with guest panelists from Bristol Post, BBC Radio Bristol, Ujima Radio and What The Frock! Comedy. Further panel debates and discussions will cover the gender imbalance in the music industry, women’s mental health and young women’s activism.
 
The day will also see Bristol Women’s Voice launching its manifesto for change, ‘What Women Want’, which focuses on key issues for Bristol women, including women’s safety, the position of women in Bristol’s economy as well as actions around education, housing and representation.
 
Dr Madge Dresser of the University of the West of England will be launching her book ‘Women in the City’ (published by Bristol’s Redcliffe Press), which exposes the hidden histories of Bristol’s women. Dr Dresser said: “Some were wealthy, many were poor and most have been forgotten, their stories untold, trivialised or ignored, until now.”

Working with other local organisations including African Initiatives, Acorn Bristol, Refugee Women of Bristol and Bristol Women In Music, there will be opportunities for women of all ages to come together to collaborate, discuss key issues and learn new skills and experiences.