It’s a century since women gained the right to vote and therefore a special year for Dundee Women’s Festival. The theme of this year’s event, running from March 4 to 17, is “A Vote for the Future”.
Dundee is a city with a rousing, radical and proud tradition of strong women.
Indeed, the city’s women played a pivotal role in promoting the votes for women campaign 100 years ago.
It seems only fitting that their achievements be celebrated in 2018 with the biggest and most exciting Dundee Women’s Festival yet.
The theme of this year’s event is “A Vote for the Future” and co-organiser Sarah Browne reckons this ties in well with 2018 being International Year of Young People.
“It seemed a good opportunity to focus on what women have achieved as well as looking to the future and how we build a society where girls determine their own future,” she said.
“Events on offer this year showcase the rich contributions women make to the life of Dundee.”
There’s everything from talks to walks to film screenings, cookery classes, music workshops, storytelling, health and well-being sessions, dance performances, exhibitions, feminist pub quizzes, concerts, self-defence classes, reiki and roller skating.
The festival will be launched by Lesley Riddoch on March 4 at the DCA when she gives a talk entitled “Women and Land – Our Secret History”.
Renowned forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black will give a talk on March 6 on the subject of anatomy and the body donation programme at the Dundee University.
Mary Henderson, a founding member of Dundee Women’s Aid and founder of the Dundee Women’s Trail, helped curate the programme and hopes to join groups on guided walks around the city, looking at plaques and hearing stories of notable women from Dundee’s past.
The festival closes with an event at Verdant Works which will include performances by Voices in Harmony – Whitfield Community Choir and a girls’ choir.
“The festival is a hugely significant event providing space to celebrate what women have contributed and achieved as well as encouraging people to reflect on what still needs to be done to achieve equality for women and girls,” said Sarah.
“It’s also an important event in bringing together the local community to showcase some of the wonderful groups in Dundee which do amazing work all year round.”
Artist Laura Darling, who designed this year’s striking festival brochure, said: “There’s an eclectic programme of events and the committee wanted the design to reflect that.
“We often get asked, ‘why isn’t there a men’s festival?’ – sometimes innocently, but often it’s a challenge, and not always from men!
“The short answer is that history has been largely written by men, laws created by men, society shaped by men, with women traditionally viewed as inferior.
“100 years has sadly not been long enough to entirely shake this deeply rooted value. Events like the festival celebrate women and how far we’ve come but the day we achieve equality and no longer need to highlight women’s achievements will be true cause for celebration.”
Writer and filmmaker Shona Main, who once worked for Patches, Blue Jeans and Jackie magazines, has organised a film screening at the DCA on festival opening day. “A women’s culture that won benefits for everyone in the city is something we should recognise, revisit and celebrate,” she said.
“The festival is an organic, grassroots collection of women who come together, mark our history and create opportunities for women in Dundee to continue to be the impetus for change for the better.”
www.dundeewomensfestival.org.uk
