STILL WE RISE Exhibition (9 - 22nd March) & performance (14 March 12pm - 2pm)

STILL WE RISE

Exhibition (9 - 22nd March) & performance (14 March 12pm - 2pm)

People's History Museum, Manchester

Last week a Channel 4 undercover investigation evidenced the state sanctioned abuse of women in Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre. These are issues that asylum seeking women have been speaking out about for years.

Over the past year SHUT DOWN YARL’S WOOD demonstrations led by Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) and Manchester Migrant Solidarity (MISOL) with Safety4Sisters have taken over some of the main squares in Manchester, as women fight to get their voices heard.

Come and hear directly from women who have experienced the horrors of Yarl’s Wood, and their ongoing fight for justice and sanctuary.

Reserve your place for the performance on 14 March using Eventbrite

Exhibition curated by Jenny White of Warp & Weft

Part of the Wonder Women Radical Manchester programme

Anti-capitalism and fashion – marking International Women’s Day

The Working Class Movement Library will celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday 7 March at 2pm with a talk by Tansy Hoskins about her book Stitched Up: the Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion.  Ballad singer Jennifer Reid will perform alongside the talk.

Winner of the ICA Bookshop Book of the Year 2014, Stitched Up delves into the alluring world of fashion to reveal what is behind the clothes we wear. Moving between Karl Lagerfeld and Karl Marx, the book explores consumerism, class and advertising to reveal the interests which benefit from exploitation.

Tansy dissects fashion’s vampiric relationship with the planet and with our bodies to uncover what makes it so damaging. Why does ‘size zero’ exist and what is the reality of working life for models? In a critique of the portrayal of race in fashion, the book also examines the global balance of power in the industry.

Stitched Up provides a unique critical examination of contemporary culture and the distorting priorities of capitalism.  Alongside this Jennifer Reid’s songs, drawn from the Library’s vast collection of songbooks and songsheets of protest and rebellion, will form an apt commentary.

This event is part of Wonder Women: Radical Manchester.  It is free, and open to all.

STILL I RISE: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

An evening of spoken word, music and comedy on an all-women platform

Celebrate International Women's Day with a fantastic evening of all-female talent, from spoken word and poetry, to theatre and music, hosted by Freedom from Torture and the Lesbian Immigration Support Group.

Inspired by the late Maya Angelou, Still I Rise highlights the talents and struggles of women from across the world. It will include a theatre performance by the women of the Lesbian Immigration Support Group and poetry readings by clients of Freedom from Torture. A £4 donation is suggested.

Special Guests TBA!

This event has been supported with a grant from Manchester City Council.

Thanks to robhelsby.com for the artwork.

Further information available on the website here

WOMEN’S CYCLING PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

To help mark International Women’s Day 2015, we want to collect photographs of women across Manchester telling us about their achievements and why they ride their bikes.

This is an interactive friendly competition open to all women across Greater Manchester –

We want photographs of everyone – so whether you have just learnt to ride; you enjoy occasional riding with family or friends in parks and green places; your bike is your transport; you like to explore the world from the saddle; you enjoy speeding on steaming tarmac; or love bumping about on dirt tracks in the wild forest – we would like your photograph!

No creative photographic experience necessary – it’s the statement and location that’s going to potentially win you some great prizes.

Have a look at the website for plenty more information about how to submit & get started. www.mcrwomenbike.org.uk

Please s p r e a d the word to any networks or individuals you might know who would be interested in getting involved.

Final exhibition, bike party & prize giving to be held after Critical Mass on March 27^th at Popup Bikes, Manchester.