Women’s History Month is officially upon us, with International Women’s Day coming up on Friday March 8, Eastlondonlines has made a list of events you can attend in Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Lewisham and Croydon to celebrate women. From music festivals to feminist history workshops and art galleries, there’s something for everyone.
Arab Women Arts Now (AWAN) Festival 2024
This contemporary mutli-arts festival dedicated to showcasing Arab women’s work is the only one of its kind here in the UK.
The festival is hosting a range of events taking place every day this month, such as art exhibitions ‘fables of the sea’ and ‘cuts’ showcasing Palestinian artists work, talks about diversity and challenges for Arab women publishers, and ending with a ‘protest sounds’ music festival featuring female Arab DJ’s on Saturday, March 30.
Where: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E1 6LA
When: 29 – 30 March
Cost: Varied
Find out more/book: https://richmix.org.uk/events/arab-women-arts-now-awan-festival-2024/
LSE Library Lates: Celebrating the Women’s Library
For book worms and lovers, the Women’s Library Reading Room in the London School of Economics and Political Science is hosting a pop-up exhibition from the library’s collection with talks by guest speakers, a behind-the-scenes tour of the library archives and more.
Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives will have a stall alongside many other organisations working on women’s and feminist history.
Where: LSE Library, 10 Portugal St, WC2A 2AE
When: Thursday 07 March, 6 – 9pm
Cost: Free
Find out more/book: Drop in event. https://www.lse.ac.uk/library/events/general/lse-library-late-celebrating-the-womens-library
Community and family celebration for International Women’s Day
The council will be hosting a community and family celebration day for the whole family to enjoy. A day full of inspirational celebrity speakers, music, dance, stalls, health and wellbeing information, performances, fitness sessions, poetry and more.
Where: Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ
When: Saturday 9 March, 11am – 6pm
Cost: Free
Find out more/book: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=h-wKPIP5j0Gz3NNduD-10o32bCwl3jZOtKZ9WFz6IGBURE5FM0RNOTRKQVNLR0Y2Skk2N0tEMFBERy4u
Write Women Into History: Hackney HOWLers reading and discussion event
The event will be held at Hackney Central Library, where members of the Hackney HOWLers writing group will read and discuss extracts from their book ‘Write Women Into History’ which contains reflections of fourteen older Hackney women, looking back on the early days of the Women’s Liberation Movement.
The Hackney HOWLers writing group is part of the national HOWL (History of Women’s Liberation) project.
Where: Hackney Central library, 1 Reading Ln, E8 1GQ
When: Thursday 14 March, 6 – 7:30pm
Cost: Free
Find out more/book: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/write-women-into-history-hackney-howlers-at-hackney-central-library-tickets-806487274147?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1
The Sunlight Project for International Women’s Day
A women celebration event by female-led contributors in an evening full of empowering performances, art and wine.
Where: The Hill Station Cafe, Kitto Rd, Telegraph Hill, SE14 5TW
When: Wednesday 6 March, 6:30 – 10:30pm
Cost: £5 tickets, with all proceeds donated to Refuge, a charity for women and children against domestic violence.
Find out more/book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sunlight-project-for-international-womens-day-tickets-796093506107
Women of Lewisham
Hosted by Lewisham Heritage and Women of London’s Becky Laxton-Bass and will explore the lives of Lewisham’s extraordinary female icons, celebrating key life stories and histories which have left lasting legacies in Lewisham, from medical pioneers to social reformers and politicians, most notably community worker Sybil Phoenix and Beatrice Drapper, the first woman Mayor of Deptford.
Where: Granville Park Adult Learning Lewisham, SE13 7DU
When: Thursday 21 March, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Cost: Free
Find out more/book: https://lewisham.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=115565
Routes to Roots: A South Asian Heritage Project Exhibition
This multi-media exhibition is part of Maya Production’s Routes to Roots creative programme and promises to provide a captivating exploration of the rich and multicultural heritage of Croydon, as well as Sheffield and Bradford.
The exhibition will explore themes of migration, heritage, family, home and cultural identity and will showcase inspirational outcomes of collaboration, including art, poetry, photography, documentary, podcast, and interactive installations.
Where: Museum of Croydon, Katharine St, Croydon, CR0 1NX
When: 11am- 4pm every Wednesday and Friday from 8 March to 26 April
Cost: Free
Find out more/book: https://croydonbid.com/whats-on/routes-to-roots/2024-03-08/
Celebrate Women in Business networking event
This event is hosted by Startup Croydon in collaboration with I Mean Business which will include speeches by female entrepreneurs from Femme Fatale TV and Black Girl Finance, education and networking opportunities.
Where: LSBU Croydon Campus, 3 Wellesley Rd, Croydon, CR0 2AG
When: Friday 8 March, 10:30am – 3pm
Cost: £25 – £35
Find out more/book: https://croydonbid.com/whats-on/international-womens-day-celebration/