Podium, South Warehouse

There’ll be a few spontaneous moments throughout the festival - 2 or 3 times a day - where the space will come to a standstill for a moment of magic!

The Hall

Do you struggle to find the time to fit your uncontrollable rage into your busy schedule? Ever wanted to scream at the top of your lungs from the top of a mountain? Join us for Scream into the Void: A bookable experience where you can schedule an appointment to lose your sh*t. Sign up on the day for an individual or group screaming into the void experience and choose whether to have the darkened and expansive space to yourself, or share with a co-screamer or a non judgmental witness to your self expression.

This session needs to be booked in advance on arrival at the information desk.

Brought to you by Girl Gang Manchester.

Podium, South Warehouse

Join Maxine Peake and WOW Founder Jude Kelly for a Sunday morning discussion on Manchester, the arts and what the future looks like for creative industries.

Conversation Station, South Warehouse

What does it mean to have a girl-centred approach to tackling gendered violence and how important is it? African based programme, The Girl Generation - Support to the Africa-led movement to end female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) will join us alongside Dr Leyla Hussein, their Global Advocacy Director, who is a psychotherapist and activist, together with young people who are leading the fight against gendered violence in their communities across East Africa. You'll hear from the young women at the very frontlines, and discover why the voices and experiences of young people must be at the forefront of meaningful change.

Shared Workshop Area, South Warehouse

Discover the power of art as a tool for self-discovery and introspection in this drawing workshop with Promina Sreshtha from WOW Nepal. We’ll guide you through the process of capturing your inner character on paper in this fun and reflective session.

Conversation Station, South Warehouse

How do identity and creativity intersect? Actor Zawe Ashton and broadcaster Gemma Cairney are two friends with celebrated careers in the arts, but how do their many selves coexist in their unique creative lives? Join them for a frank and open discussion - touching on race, gender and new motherhood - about the impact this has on their work and artistic lives in an industry that often doesn’t feel built for the complex intersections of so many artists.

Lower Foyer

Join us for an inspiring and empowering workshop focused on celebrating Black joy. This session aims to uplift, honour, and cultivate the joy that exists within the Black community. Through discussions, activities, and shared experiences, we will explore the resilience, strength, and beauty inherent in Black joy and make our very own care plans exploring what that looks like for us as individuals.

This session is for Black people only.

Lower Foyer

Award winning arts practitioner, podcaster and broadcaster, Audrey Hall facilitates a sharing circle for women creatives over the age of 35, to ask, 'Was enough, enough?', to connect and convene to launch her Safe Space Sisterhood community. Whether you're an established practitioner or wanting to explore your creative potential, join in to be part of an exciting new network offering support, advice and affirmation for mature women creatives from all backgrounds.

Conversation Station, South Warehouse

Come and hear some of the world’s best and most compelling speakers talk about the things they care about most.

Including:

Helen Pankhurst on why she can’t give it a rest!

Nazir Afzal on why organisational culture matters

Leanne Yau on Radical Connections Through Relationship Anarchy

Dr Mona El-Farra on why Gaza is a feminist issue

Noor Kanoo on why representation on screen matters

Ana Gutierrez on why midwives as catalysers for gender equality

Shared Workshop Area, South Warehouse

Burnout isn't a one-size-fits-all experience. It's multifaceted, deeply intertwined with issues of politics, money, identity, belonging, workplace dynamics and more. If you're feeling the weight of burnout, this workshop with psychotherapist Dr Leyla Hussein is crafted with you in mind. In this session we explore the root causes of burnout and learn some practical strategies to cultivate psychological safety whilst also providing a space to be heard.

The Hall

An emotional exorcism through exercise! Let off some physical, mental and emotional steam in a workshop that’s somewhere between boogieing in your bedroom, a 3am dancefloor and a drama workshop, but all in an exercise class setting.

No routines, but structured movement to follow along, as well as plenty of opportunity for free form dance alongs too. Think Jane Fonda via Rainbow Rhythms with Broadway aspirations! This is a camp, heightened, theatrical interactive class that grants permission for people to be as daft and uncool as they feel, in a bid to expel anxiety and tension from the body. We will emote, sing, lip sync and laugh to music that’s great to move, sing and get all up in your feels to, from power ballads to pop hits.

Get ready to groove and listen to the Angst Aerobics playlist here.

Brought to you by Girl Gang Manchester.

Workshop Zone, South Warehouse

What a bloody mess! Menstrual Mood Mapping is a calming, playful and creative workshop exploring the different phases and moods of menstrual cycles. Learn how to use collage techniques to chart hormone highs and lows, challenge myths and misogyny, and delve into the depiction of periods in popular culture.

This workshop is for anyone who wants to connect to the menstrual cycle, regardless of whether you have experienced menstruation.

Conversation Station, South Warehouse

We all use clothing to make statements about ourselves, our communities, our cultures - and our futures. We are joined by author and former hostage Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, curator and art historian Rachel Dedman and author on sustainable fashion Aja Barber to discuss the transformative power of garments, needlework and our clothing choices through hard times, healing and survival. Our speakers explore how we hold onto our identity via limited choices of our own attire, from the significance of making and sharing clothes in prison, to the creative force of repurposing our clothing and the women’s history we sew into our cultures when we keep traditional craftsmanship alive.

This discussion will also delve into the broader context of fashion, navigating male and state-imposed dress codes, touching on global movements for sustainability in the fashion industry, the erasure of traditions and how clothes and needlework can be tools for change and survival, as we weave together stories of solidarity and resilience.

Podium, South Warehouse

WOW Founder Jude Kelly closes the festival - join for a joyous send off!

All day, Roaming

Don’t be surprised when the HYPEHUNZ come and gas you up! Providing lollies, laughter, glitter, giggles, compliments and confidentiality, they’ll hear you out, hype you up, get to the heart of the issue, glitter your face and send you soaring on your way in a series of fleeting impromptu interactions around the building.

Brought to you by Girl Gang Manchester.

The Marketplace

Womenity by Ina-Maria Shikongo

Namibian artist and activist Ina-Maria Shikongo’s new piece ‘Womenity’ uses old clothing and offcuts to tell the journey of a woman through Mountain, Water, the Tree and Air and to remind us to honour women, just like nature and life. The installation is inspired by the textile mills of Manchester, the legacy of empire and Namibian fabrics. ‘Womenity’ is a commission by the Commonwealth Foundation.

Join Ina-Maria in the Marketplace for 45 minute workshops to create a shared art piece at 11.30pm, 1pm, 2.30pm and 4pm.

Moonmoth by Tania Kovats

Come and experience Tania Kovats’ ‘MOONMOTH’, a new commission curated by Invisible Dust engaging with the legacy of the visionary 17th century naturalist, Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), a new work that relates to our current biodiversity crisis.

This commission is supported by the prestigious Simon Industrial and Professional (SIP) Fellowship, University of Manchester.

The Marketplace

Join local non profit CDM UK for a full day of drop-in block printing. Whether you want to give new life to a t-shirt or a tote or just want to have a go at something creative, this session is for you! Instructions and materials provided - and feel free to bring anything else you would like to print onto.

The Marketplace

Join ClayLife for an all day drop in workshop open to the clay curious of all ages! Known for its calming quality, clay modelling is a great way to relax, get creative and have some fun. Guided by our facilitator, we can teach you the basics from making your own plant pot to free form sculpting.

The Marketplace

A drop-in art workshop with Heidi Wigmore. Contribute to a big floor-based drawing made from coloured tape, depicting life-sized dynamic figures that have freed themselves from the ‘red tape’ of conventional rules and regulations!