Monday 9 March – 13 March
Wonderful Women, Celebrating Women, Art and Culture
5 Day residential course: Course code SPO916
Venue: Ruskin College, Walton Street, Oxford, Entrance: £86, for those on income related benefits the course is free.
Booking Essential. Wheelchair Access: All Welcome. Tutors: Emma Howell/Penny Halliday

Exciting  5-day course celebrating the achievements and diversity of women throughout time, from activists to artists, suffragettes to slaves and poets to playwrights.   Explores issues as diverse as women and the media, and is there such a thing as a feminine style of writing?  An ideal course for anyone considering studying Women’s Studies, or English in the future, or simply if you would like to know more about the subjects covered.  No previous experience needed; just interest and enthusiasm. 
(ASET levels 1 -3)

Organiser: Ruskin College, Short Course Office
Contacts: Nicola Stokes to discuss remission of fees, 01865 517802
                To book by telephone using a credit card, 01865 517802               
                Short Course Unit, 01865 554331

Monday 9 March
Come and Connect with Connection
Venue: Oxford Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way (off Cowley Road), Oxford 11.00am – 3.00 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access:  Women Only

Connection is holding an open session for all women.  Speak with workers and clients to see how we support and enable women to live more independently and make changes to their lives.

Organiser: Connection. Contact: 01865 711267

Monday 9 March
Mary Baker Eddy: This Woman Never Gave Up
Venue: Christian Science Church, 36a St Giles, Oxford 7.30 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

Overcoming numerous difficulties concerning health, home, family and finance, Mary Baker Eddy challenged  19th century mainstream beliefs and became a respected author, teacher, healer, publisher and religious leader (Christian Science).  This talk explains what she discovered and how her achievements still help people today.

Speaker: Barbara Fife, a practitioner and teacher of Christian Science healing from Vancouver, Canada

Organiser: Sally Lessiter. Contact: 01865 557605 or 875 529  

Tuesday 10 March
Women of Our World Unite - In Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of theOxford International’s Women’s Festival
Venue: Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford. 7 pm Entrance: Free, donations welcome. Wheelchair Access: Limited to 4 wheelchairs (Entrance 20 metres to left of main entrance). All Welcome

You are invited to a varied evening of celebratory music, plus discussion with local and international women. Hear about women's struggles overseas, and right here on our doorstep. The two are brought together in Amnesty's 'No Recourse' campaign to help women who have nowhere to turn when they suffer domestic violence.

The event will begin with drumming, followed by the speakers. A chance to sample international Fairtrade food, explore stalls promoting local campaigns and community groups. Place your message about women who have inspired you, view an exhibition of paintings, and sway to music by local musicians, under the influence of the giant woman figure, 'Oxford Gigantona', Our Nicaraguan visitors  will  tell us something of their lives in Leon, and problems women face in creating a safe and secure environment.
Speakers: Heather Harvey, Coordinator of Stop Violence Against Women campaign for Amnesty International. Carole Roberts, Director Rosehill & Donnington Advicee Centre & former OCC Councillor, Hanan Bamourah, President of the Palestinian Health Workers Union, Sophia Sanchez Sirias & Milgaros Mairena Delgardo, visitors from Leon, Nicaragua.

Organiser: Amnesty International, Stop violence Against Women (SVAW) Oxford City and the Network of Women for Justice & Peace (NOW). Contact: 01865 249336

Wednesday 11 March
Redbridge Women’s Travellers Group celebrates St Bernadette
Venue: South Oxford Baptist Church, Wytham Street, Oxford 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

An ‘open’ afternoon hosted by the Redbridge Traveller Women’s group, with live music, food and displays in celebration of St. Bernadette and the women’s contribution to Irish traveller culture. Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration.

Organiser: Redbridge Traveller Women’s Group. Contact: 01865 724209  diana.senior@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Wednesday 11 March
Dorothy Hodgkin Memorial Lecture -Your mother’s antibodies: How you get them and how we might improve them to combat HIV Venue: Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford
6.00 pm refreshments coffee/tea   6.30 pm lecture. Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

Lecturer: Professor Pamela J Bjorkman, Ph.D. Max Delbruck Professor of Biology and Investigator, HHMI California Institute of Technology, USA.

Following in Dorothy Hodgkin's tradition of using three-dimensional structure to interpret biological function, we study the three-dimensional structures of proteins, cells, and intracellular organelles. We used this approach to examine the transfer of maternal antibodies to the newborn, which passively immunizes the newborn against viruses. Antibodies are effective in neutralising most viruses to prevent infection. One virus that successfully evades most antibodies is HIV, the causative agent of AIDS. Using protein design techniques, we are trying to improve anti-HIV antibodies to increase their neutralisation potencies.

Organisers: Dr Yasmin Robson on behalf of Oxford Association for Women in Science & Engineering (AWiSE) in association with the University Museum of Natural History and Somerville College. Contact: 01865 750143

Wednesday 11 March
Let’s Talk about Sex
Venue: Grove House, 44 IffleyTurn, Oxford 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Entrance: £15 (Booking essential). No Wheelchair Access: Women Only

Explore your sexuality in a safe, enjoyable women-only group.  Facilitator Polly McLean holds a certificate in psychosexual health and will guide you through fun experiential exercises designed to increase confidence in your own sexuality.  No nudity or sexual contact involved. 

Organiser: Polly McLean. Contact: 07870 643260

Wednesday 11 March
Talk to the Artist Evening
The Woman Behind: An exhibition of prints by women artists
6.00 pm – 8.00 pm. See main entry listed under 5 March

Thursday 12 March
Phenomenal Women
Venue: Rosehill & Littlemore Children’s Centre, The Oval, Rosehill 10.20 am – 3.00 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

Relaxing pampering day, delicious food from round the world, and a stunning photographic display of inspirational local women who use and work at the Centre.  Art, music and dance to release the artist within. Ayian, a centre volunteer originally from Ethiopia, will show her latest film about work, life and experience in Oxford and actress Amantha Edmead will dazzle with her lively poetry readings – as well as all that Rose Hill talent!

Organiser: Jane Creese. Contact: 01865 716739

Thursday 12 March
No Mountain Too High: 50 Years of Women and Feminism in Oxford
Venue: Queen Elizabeth House (Room 1), Department of International Development, 3 Mansfield Road, Oxford 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

The writings of outstanding women pioneers in feminist and women’s studies and their impact on women’s lives cross-culturally will be discussed by some of those they inspired.

Organiser: Jackie Waldren & Janette Davies. Contact: 01865 558321

Thursday 12 March
Pioneering Women in Spirituality
Venue: The Global Retreat Centre, Nuneham Park, Nuneham Courtenay, Oxford 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

The Story of Brahma Kumaris. Join Maureen Goodman, a spiritual pioneer, to explore the story of the Brahma Kumaris, an organisation run by remarkable women since its founding in India in 1937. Audio visuals will complement the talk followed by question and answer.

Organiser: Aruna Vadher, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organisation. Contact: 01865 343551   aruna.vadher@globalretreatcentre.org

Thursday 12 March
Marigolds and Ashes: A Performance of Stories and Music Honouring Death as a part of Life
Venue: Friends Meeting House, 43 St Giles, Oxford 7.30 pm
Entrance: £10, Concessions £7 (Places limited, booking advised) Refreshments included.
Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

Every household has its dead, but where are our rituals of remembrance?  Inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead, Marigolds and Ashes is a life-affirming exploration of this universal subject through story-telling, followed by a chance to share memories. Performers: Liz Rothschild and Jackie Singer.

Organiser: Liz Rothschild & Jackie Singer. Contact: Bookings 01865 718980   js@jackiesinger.co.uk

Friday 13 March
Rebel Divas
Venue: Long Room, Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford 7.30 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access: Limited to 4 wheelchairs (Entrance 20 metres to left of main entrance). All Welcome
 
Film-maker Anne-Marie Sweeney presents a digital anthology of provocative, eloquently outspoken women, who have inspired battles against injustice over past decades: from Bernadette McAliskey to Iraqi anti-war protester Haifa Zangani, from Amazonian prostitute leader Lourdes Barreito to South Africa’s Emma Mashinini, from Grunwick’s to Gate Gourmet, from Women Against Pit Closures to Women on the Waterfront. Speaker: Anne-Marie Sweeney

Organiser: Oxford & District Trade Union Council. Contact: Sue Tibbles, 01865 277209   unisonoxford@aim.com

Saturday 14 March
The Paper Room
Venue: OVADA, 21 Gloucester Green, Oxford 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Entrance: £15, Concessions £10. Wheelchair Access: Women Only

Being phenomenal women.  An opportunity to explore forms of freedom, and images of strength and vulnerability for women.  In a room made from paper we will draw from movement, sound and mark making practices, exploring with paper and form.  The Space Architects are Artists Helen Edwards and Philippa Jeffrey

Organiser: Space Architects, Helen Edwards & Philippa Jeffrey. Contact: 07947 546133

Saturday 14 March
Spotlight on South Oxford
Venue: South Oxford Community Centre, Lake St.
Two events spotlighting inspirational & pioneering women of South Oxford

Spotlight: Championing the work of local women
2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Entrance: Free. No Wheelchair Access:  Women & children

Gardeners, potters, painters, artists, designers, writers, teachers, carers, chiropractors and makers of fine objects display their wares.  Meet the women who do, and be inspired by their endeavours. Exhibition, stalls, children’s activity corner.
3.00 pm: Presentations by Susanna Pressel (Lord Mayor of Oxford) to women who have been nominated as ‘inspirational’ by other women in the community.
Light refreshments available throughout the event

Spotlight: Candlelit Cabaret
7.00 pm doors open, 7.30 pm performance begins.
Entrance: £5, Concessions £3. No Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

An evening’s entertainment by professional and semi professional performers: music, song and dance. Guest:  Performance and words from actress Amantha Edmead
M.C : Comedienne Iszi Lawrence. Licensed bar. All proceeds from this event to local charities.

Organisers: Women of South Oxford. Contact: Chris Eady 01865 245793  or Jane Mercer 01865 246608

Sunday 15 March              
Women in Politics – Olive Gibbs
Venue: Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford
2.00 – 4.00 pm. Entrance: Free
Wheelchair Access limited to 4 wheelchairs (Entrance 20 metres to the left of main entrance). All welcome

Remembered as the City Councillor who took a hammer to the infamous Cutteslowe Wall in 1959, Olive Gibbs was one of Oxford’s leading politicians. National President of CND – she called her profession ‘Peace Campaigner.’  Twice Lord Mayor with many years of service as Oxford City Councillor and also a County Councillor, she was a true political woman pioneer. Historian, Katherine Bradley, traces Olive’s political background and those who knew her will talk about the effect she had on local politics. An event aimed at encouraging more local women to enter politics.  

Organisers: Cllr. Susanna Pressel, Lord Mayor of Oxford and Oxford International Women’s Festival. Contact: 01865 553755

Sunday 15 March
Multicultural Textiles – Workshop and Exhibition
Venue: Fusion Arts Centre, Behind East Oxford Community Centre, Princes Street, Oxford 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access: All Welcome

Be inspired by the beautiful textile work done by Oxford women from different cultures – and try some of the techniques that will be demonstrated.  Textiles for Peace is a community based women’s group for people from different backgrounds dedicated to practising textiles and getting to know each other. 

Organiser: Judy Hammond, Textiles for Peace. Contact: 01865 245178 or 01865 763479

Sunday 15 March
Strictly Come Barton!
Venue: Barton Neighborhood Centre, Underhill Circus, Headington, Oxford 7.30 pm
Entrance: Free. Wheelchair Access. All welcome

A taste of Bollywood, Latin, Ballroom and Street Dancing. Come and participate in the foot-tapping experience of a lifetime, with dance workshops and performance.  Watch films about Barton women of all ages and enjoy their contribution to the life of the community, all combined with an extract from Kuumba Nia Theatre’s play, ‘The Backside Monologues’ which fuses drama, poetry and blues to explore a woman’s experience of life and love.

Organiser: Ann Marie Browne. Contact: 01865 751616