International Women’s Day is coming soon on Sunday 8th March: a global day celebrating the “social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the world”. There is a host of events to celebrate the occasion in Nottingham and here we highlight some of those with a literary flavour.
Poetry features heavily, starting on Friday 6th with WORD! International Women’s Day Special at Beeston Library, featuring acclaimed poet and performer, Aoife Mannix. You can even join in and perform, but please contact hello@wordpoetry.co.uk to book a slot. The evening starts at 7PM, and booking is advised, tickets: £6 /£4.
On Sunday 8th, you will have to make some hard decisions, with poetry at Café Sobar, with Women Saying Stuff Open Mic. There will be performances from: Maresa MacKeith, World Jam Women and Lytisha Tunbridge, as well as plenty of slots for people identifying as women to share their poems, words and songs.4.30 – 8 PM.
https://nottinghamcityofliterature.com/whats-on/08/03/2020/poetry-spoken-word/women-say-stuff-5
At the same time, Five Leaves Bookshop will be hosting Nottingham Refugee Forum Women’s Group. Members of the group will read from their collection, The World is for Everyone, a book which represents the voices, creative contributions and insights – written and spoken – of the PAMOJA Women Together Group. As well as poems, stories and photographs, there are recipes handed down from mother to daughter, carried across the world and recreated in the UK. 4.30 – 6 PM, free for refugees and asylum seekers, £4 otherwise.
Again on Sunday, Words of Inspiration Evening by Sisters of Noor will feature local women poets, singers and award winning Author Abda Khan. 4 – 6PM at St Mark’s Church Hall in Woodthorpe, this is a free event.
Looking beyond all things poetic, Waterstones Bookshop is presenting International Women’s Day: Pageant On Paper, at 2PM on Sunday 8th. Two theatre designers, Eleanor Field and Laura Cordery, have created an enormous drawing that celebrates all the incredible achievements of women past and present. And you can make history by adding your own contribution! If you don’t want to draw, you can ask Eleanor and Laura to add your favourite woman on your behalf. Free, but please book.
https://www.waterstones.com/events/international-womens-day-pageant-on-paper/nottingham
At Backlit, the Celebrating Women Photographic Exhibition will be open from 1 – 8PM on Sunday 8th, but from 4 PM there will be spoken word performances presented by SANE Sistas. This photographic project focuses on celebrating the needs and strengths of women, and is free to attend.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrating-women-photographic-exhibition-tickets-92339436741
Two film events for International Women’s Day are worth a look, too. At Broadway Cinema, there is an advance viewing of Radioactive ahead of the film’s release. The film will be followed by a Q&A, live by satellite, with actress Rosamund Pike and director, Marjane Satrapi (author and director of PERSEPOLIS) as they discuss bringing the illuminating life of scientist, Marie Curie, to the big screen. Sunday 8th at 1.45 PM
https://www.broadway.org.uk/whats-on/radioactive-preview-live-satellite-qa
New Art Exchange also has a film event, on Saturday 7th, with a special screening of Asian Women & Cars: The Road to Independence, followed by a discussion with exhibiting artist, Dawinder Bansal. The film celebrates the experiences of first-generation South Asian migrant women who overcame patriarchal and traditional family structures to gain independence. The film highlights the impact of these stories on future generations who benefited from their sacrifices.
https://nottinghamcityofliterature.com/whats-on/07/03/2020/exhibition/road-to-independence
There are many more events planned for Nottingham, from 2nd – 12th March, and the Nottingham Women’s Centre have done an excellent job of listing them all. Check out their website at
http://www.nottinghamwomenscentre.com/news/
And have an inspiring International Women’s Day!