International Women's Festival at the Phoenix

Exeter Phoenix is hosting the International Women’s Festival 2024 to celebrate women’s voices and reflect on what still needs to be done to realise gender equality.

Women’s Power for Change takes place on March 9, 2024 and is a fun day of live music dance and activities for the whole family which is free for all.

It has been organised by Devon United Women in partnership with Fawcett Devon (a branch of the Fawcett Society), with a contribution from Devon and Cornwall Police.

Annaruth Peelcusson, Exeter Phoenix Visitor Services Manager, said: “We are delighted to host such an important Festival, to celebrate women’s voices, to reflect on progress made and the work still left to do to realise gender equality and a more peaceful world.

“We are proud to offer our space to this vibrant festival. Every women’s success should be an inspiration to another.”   

The festival starts from 10.30am for coffee and a chance for women and men to share their experiences.

Speakers and panel discussions will take place in Studio 74: 

• 10.45am - Shifting Women’s Power for Change
• 12.25pm - Women’s Health
• 1:30pm - Women’s Power to Save lives in Gaza
• 2:40pm - Our Journey Share Experiences
• Events in the Auditorium run from 11.45am:
• 11.45am - Newtown Roots Band
• 12.20pm - Melodie Jones
• 12.45pm - Ali Jones and Jamie Rudd
• 1.25pm - The Real Ish Band
• 2pm - Vicki Parks
• 2.30pm - Alison Macdonald
• 2.45pm - Wren Music (workshop and choir)

A number of artists will be displaying work in the Auditorium:

• La Vie En Rose Makery - Rosy Tydeman
• Handmade Homeware - Danielle Williams
• Josie Gould
• Patricia Ferns
• Petra Lewin
• Alison Jagger Cane

A women’s-only workshop features:

• 12.15pm - Menopause Empowering Women through this Incredible stage of Life
• 1.25pm - Health and Change Rosalie Experience

In Studio 1 from 11am to 4pm there will be a variety of women’s stalls. In the Meeting Room from 11am to 4pm there will be children’s activities.

The line-up for the Studio Dance is:

• 11am: Yoga
• 12:10pm: Ilaria Belly Dance
• 1:20pm: Valentina &Ilaria Trantella
• 2:30pm: Rosalie Dance Zumba

Yvonne Atkinson, of Fawcett Devon, said: “The Fawcett Society is the oldest feminist group in the UK  campaigning for and celebrating the achievements of women. Today women are still campaigning and fighting for change using different tools but also learning from the past.”

Every year on 8 March the world marks International Women’s Day, an event dedicated to championing the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality.

International Women's Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900's The annual celebration began as a way of honouring the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, which saw women protesting against working conditions and demanding equal political and economic rights.