Three weeks out from the sixth All About Women, this year’s curator, Edwina Throsby, has announced 13 new speakers, performers and workshop teachers to the already packed program.
This year’s one-day festival of female achievement, returning on Sunday March 4, covers topics from transgender politics to disability and intersectionality, all with a female-identifying focus. New to the line-up is the Smashing the Patriarchy panel that’ll examine systemic factors underpinning female oppression. Saudi Arabian women’s rights activist Manal al-Sharif (already announced) will be joined by Fight Like a Girl author Clementine Ford and journalist Van Badham to talk sexual harassment and violence, domestic assault, workplace inequality, domestic labour and cultural representation. A phenomenal amount to discuss in one hour!
In addition, new speakers and panel chairs include Francesca Donner, director of The New York Times gender initiative; Katharine Annear, artist, writer and leading autism activist; cabaret artist Kath Duncan; West Australian of the Year nominee (2015) and champion for wheelchair users’ rights Samantha Connor; Sally Goldner, LGBTI Victorian of the Year (2015); Fairfax journalist Jacqueline Maley; City of Sydney Councillor and former Vivid Ideas curator Jess Scully; Dr Nicola Henry, socio-legal scholar on sexual violence; Emma Hogan, correspondent for The Economist; and head of Talks & Ideas Edwina Throsby.
There’ll be two new workshops: one on cheesemaking called This Fetta Be Good with Kristen Allan and Wine Time, a celebration of female winemakers with Aria sommelier Georgina Larsson. Plus, the day begins with a yoga class on the forecourt, should you be so inclined. And they’ve introduced a lunchtime singsong by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs who’ll lead an open choir quoting famous words from British suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst (set to music) through to belting out Beyoncé bangers.
As if that wasn’t enough, they’ve added ‘Woman’s World’ singer-songwriter Okenyo (pictured) to the Block Party line-up, as well as Triple J Unearthed artist CLYPSO and DJs Ayebatonye and Mowgli May.
Some sessions on the day have already sold out – including the Future of Saudi Women with Manal al-Sharif, Pretty for an Aboriginal and the Guilty Feminist live podcast performances and headlining talks from Fran Lebowitz, Rebecca Walker and the #metoo panel discussion.
If you can’t make it on the day, All About Women is live streaming five key talks to venues such as Hurstville Library, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong Town Hall, Riverside Theatres, and many more across Australia and New Zealand.
Read our interview with Edwina Throsby about this year’s All About Women.
All About Women takes place at Sydney Opera House on Sunday March 4. See the full schedule.