Saturday 28 February
20th Anniversary Women’s Festival Parade
Venue: Assemble 10 am Oxford Town Hall, St. Aldate’s, Oxford. Entrance: Free
Wheelchair Access: Limited to 4 wheelchairs (Entrance 20 metres to left of main entrance)
Begin the 20th Anniversary of the Oxford International Women’s Festival in style with a colourful Celebratory Parade through Oxford’s streets finishing at Broad Street. Led by our Nicaraguan Gigantona Giant Women’s Puppet made by our visitors from Leon with drumming bands. A great start to a phenomenal festival!
Organiser: Oxford International Women’s Festival. Contact: 01865 245793
Saturday 28 February – Sunday 15 March
Oxford Pride presents “Inspiration”
Venue: The Boiler Room at the Jam Factory, corner of Park End St & Hollybush Row, Oxford.
10.00 am – 10 pm (Monday to Sunday)
Entrance: Free or by donation to Oxford Pride.
Wheelchair Access: All Welcome
Oxford Pride celebrates the diversity of local and international LGBT communities sharing in the possibilities of coexistence. “Inspiration” unites gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight artists, working with the “feminine qualities” within us all. Join us and delight in artworks produced or inspired by women.
List of artists and more information at www.oxfordpride.org.uk
Opening Performance Event: Monday 2 March, 6 – 9 pm
Organiser: Oxford Pride. Contact: 07880 521907/ 01865 244613/ afrodit@aarght.com
Saturday 28 February
Building Coalitions against War
Venue: North Oxford Community Centre, Diamond Place, Summertown, Oxford
11.00 am – 4.30 pm
Entrance: £3.
Wheelchair Access: All Welcome
International speakers include Haifa Zangana (Iraqi author) on the Middle East, Alice Ukoko (Human Rights defender and Founder of “Women of Africa”); Kate Hudson (National Chair, CND), Workshops aim at joint campaigning to influence powerful national and international organisations against war.
Lunch/refreshments available.
Organiser: Network of Women (NOW) for Peace and Justice. Contact: 01235 811728 bettejones@ntlworld.com
Saturday 28 February
Caribbean Feast
A celebration of food and the women who create it!
Venue: The Glow Hall, Blackbird Leys Community Centre, Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford
6.30 pm
Entrance: £5, Concessions £3 (includes meal)
Wheelchair Access: All Welcome
Dress in your finery for a great night out. Savour delicious food, listen to mouth-watering poetry from actress Amantha Edmead, enjoy music from ska to reggae, calypso to soca. Many older women came from the Caribbean in the 50s and worked in the kitchens of hospitals, day centres and colleges of Oxford as well as feeding their own families. They also cook at the Day Centre for the older community. Time to celebrate their achievements!
Organiser: Junie James, Oxford Women from the Caribbean Community. Contact: 0845 8337159
Sunday 1 March
Sing Out Workshop with Kate Garrett
Venue: West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Rd, Oxford
2.00 pm workshop, 5.30 pm performance
Entrance: Free.
Wheelchair Access Workshop - Women only Performance - All Welcome
Vocal workshop with the inspirational Kate Garrett. Learn vocal techniques in a relaxed, fun environment. After some warm -up exercises, learn up to 4 songs from around the world. Invite your friends and family to a 15 minute performance at 5.30 pm. Refreshments provided
Organiser: West Oxford Community Association. Contact: 01865 203550
Sunday 1 March
The Backside Monologues
Venue: East Oxford Community Centre, Princes Street, Oxford 8.00 pm
Entrance: £5, Concessions £3 Tickets at the door.
Wheelchair Access: All Welcome
Kuumba Nia Theatre Company presents: ‘The Backside Monologues’. The actress goes to therapy and the Blues Diva tells it like it is. A one act play, exploring love, friendship and the many ups and downs of a life journey. A two hander told through drama, poetry and song.
Stalls, refreshments, discussion and an open mic session for women to share their stories.
Organisers: Amantha Edmead, The Kuumba Nia Theatre Company. Contact: 07728 205634
Monday 2 March
‘21 Years of Inspiring & Empowering Women – Open Day & Film Screening’ Oxford & Cherwell Valley College, Blackbird Leys Campus, Cuddesdon Way, Oxford.
Starting 10.00 am to 2.30 pm.
Entrance: Free
Wheelchair Access: All Welcome
For 21 years Oxford Women’s Training has been empowering and training women in areas of work where they are heavily under-represented – in Construction, Motor Vehicle Maintenance, Digital Video Production and in IT. Come and see what we do and what we can offer you.
Organiser: Josie Silva, Oxford Women’s Training Contact: 01865 550827
Monday 2 March
Opening Performance Event of “Inspiration”
An exhibition: Gay Pride artworks produced and inspired by women.
6.00 pm – 9 pm.
See main entry listed 28 February
Tuesday 3 March
World class jazz players extraordinaire: Deirdre Cartwright (guitar) and Alison Rayner (bass)
Venue: East Oxford Community Centre, Princes Street, Oxford.
8.00 pm – 11.00 pm
Entrance: £5, Concessions £4 Licensed Bar.
Wheelchair Access: All Welcome
Pioneering female musicians (Jam Today, The Guest Stars, The Electric Landladies) Alison is a bass player of “awesome versatility, precision and sensitivity” (Mojo) whilst Deidre (famous ex-presenter of the groundbreaking BBC TV programme ‘Rockschool’ ) is one of the most imaginative and exciting guitarists on the scene Come along and be thrilled!
Organiser: Dr Maeve Bayton. Contact: dmaeve@hotmail.com
Wednesday 4 March – 28 March
Positive Images of Africa: An Exhibition of dolls created by Fran Ziyenge
Venue: Oxfordshire Record Office, St Luke’s Church, Temple Road, Oxford.
9.00 am – 5.00 pm Wednesday to Saturday (closed Monday & Tuesday).
Entrance: Free
Wheelchair Access: All Welcome
The Positive Images collection of dolls seeks to portray Zimbabwe culture through a rich collection of personalities and characters such as n’anga (healers), warriors, dancers, masvikiro (spirit mediums), mashavi in addition to surgeons, nurses, system analysts, engineers. A celebration of African Heritage, both historical and contemporary.
Opening event: Saturday 7 March, 2.00 pm
Organiser: Judy Hammond & Fran Ziyenge Contact: 01865 398200
Wednesday 4 March
Treat Yourself – You’re Worth It!
Venue: Cutteslowe Community Centre, 31 Wren Rd, Oxford,
9.30am - 12 noon
Entrance: Free
Wheelchair Access: Women Only
Juggling a never-ending list of demands on your time? Always thinking about other people’s needs before your own? Come to our women only indulgence morning and focus on you for once…because you’re worth it! A free crèche will be provided.
Organiser: Anna Thornhill, Cutteslowe Community Centre. Contact: 01865 311172
Wednesday 4 March
Fun Dance for Women & Children
Venue: Magdalen Road Church, 41a Magdalen Road
10.30 am – 11.30 pm
Entrance: £3.50 (£3.00 concessions)
Wheelchair Access: Women & Children under 5 years
Come & dance with your under 5 year old. All women are invited to bring their child, grandchild, godchild or friend’s child for a fun dance. Enjoy the loose structure of the 5 rhythms while you move and play with your baby or child. Come along for a lot of fun.
Organiser: Chloe de Sousa. Contact: 07866 757575