Image: ‘All About Women’ at the Sydney Opera House 

International Women’s Day is a day of celebration, shining a light on the power, success, tenacity and compassion embodied by women and non-binary individuals.

It is also a celebration of what is to come, holding in our sights a more equitable future and recognising that we are collectively an agent for change against the gender inequalities and imbalances that exist in the world.

We’ve rounded up twelve of our must-see events to head along to on International Women’s Day to get the celebrations started!

Borrowed Scenery

For centuries, women have been the subjects of male artists, inserted into scenes framed by the male gaze. The exhibition Borrowed Scenery explores what happens when the subjects of this gaze look back, step outside the frame, and assert their own vision and experience of the world. Celebrate the final day of this exhibition with a presentation from the CoUNTess Report, nail art by Claudia Nicholson and a DJ set by Del Lumanta.

WHAT: Exhibition event
WHEN: Friday 8 Mar, 6-8pm
WHERE: Campbelltown Arts Centre
HOW MUCH: FREE, more details here

All About Women

Designed to make you think and push your boundaries, All About Women is a vibrant one day festival at the Opera House that asks questions about gender, justice and equality. From comedians to scientists, activists to influencers, join industry leaders for talks, workshops and panels that will investigates where we are now and where we are heading.

WHAT: Festival
WHEN: Sunday 10 Mar, 10am-8pm
WHERE: Sydney Opera House
HOW MUCH: Prices vary, more details here

2019 MAAS Indigenous Design Symposium

With a focus on the work of our women, the 2019 MAAS Indigenous Design Symposium provides a practical platform that demonstrates the marriage between Indigenous ways of being, ways of knowing and ways of doing as a pathway to accessing and understanding design principles that have been 60 000 years in the making. The symposium will showcase the approaches and techniques of some of Australia’s leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artisans whose work brings traditional cultural practices and perspectives into contemporary contexts.

WHAT: Symposium
WHEN: 9-10 Mar, 10am
WHERE: Sydney Observatory
HOW MUCH: $120-$160, more details here

Taking Action training

For International Women’s Day this year, Green Peace are running action training sessions for female-identifying and non-binary individuals. Explore the core values and tactics of activism and learn about non-violence, direct action and people powered movements.

WHAT: Workshop
WHEN: Saturday 9 Mar, 10:30am
WHERE: 1 Botany Rd, Botany
HOW MUCH: FREE, more details here

Daisies

Screening as a part of International Women’s Day, Daisies brings together food fights, eye-popping surrealism, feminist psychedelia and cerebral ruminations on existence. Mandatory viewing for any film buff, Daisies is a revolutionary and beautifully shot cult classic of the Czech new Wave from Director Věra Chytilová.

WHAT: Film Screening
WHEN: Friday 8 Mar, 9pm
WHERE: Golden Age Cinema
HOW MUCH: $17-$22, more details here

Gentlemen Welcome

Too long has the creative industry been dominated by male leaders, while opportunities and support for women to step up have been lacking. While design culture in business is rapidly being adopted by progressive organisations, the boys club still often pervades. This talk foregrounds a celebration of women in design leadership, and underlines that men are a major part of the equality solution.

WHAT: Talk
WHEN: Friday 8 Mar, 6-9:30pm
WHERE: The Distillery
HOW MUCH: $30, more details here

Herland: In Search of a Female Utopia

What does the future hold? And what part do women play in this future world? Herland: In Search of a Female Utopia is a group exhibition challenging inequalities and social constructs in the now, so we can build a better, more equal future tomorrow.

WHAT: Exhibition Opening
WHEN: Friday 8 Mar, 6-9pm
WHERE: The Women’s Library
HOW MUCH: FREE, more details here

Queerstories x Archer Magazine: issue #11 – The GAZE issue

Launching on International Womens Day, Queerstories have teamed up with Archer Magazine to celebrate LGBTQI+ writers and publish the 11th edition of their magazine. Featuring an interview with Mojo Juju and features on dating, invisible illness, reclaiming trauma, sex work as spectacle, gender and language this magazine unpacks diverse conversations around sexuality, gender and identity. Head along to the Giant Dwarf to get your hot hands on a copy and witness performances by a selection of the magazines contributors.

WHAT: Magazine launch
WHEN: Friday 8 Mar, 7:30-10pm
WHERE: Giant Dwarf
HOW MUCH: $25-$30, more info here

Femufacture Panel Discussion: Women and digital fabrication in Australia and Japan

How has digital fabrication processes altered the nature of craft and design? Rina Bernabie, Belinda Dunstan, Patricia Flanagan and Erina Kashihara as women at the forefront of their field will shed light on their experience of working within the technological industry.

WHAT: Talk
WHEN: Friday 8 Mar, 6:30-8pm
WHERE: Level 4, Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale
HOW MUCH: FREE, more details here

Girls Talk Womens Work

International Womens Day is a global celebration of women’s achievements, as well as identifying gender inequality and imbalance. Casual Powerhouse is holding three panels that recognise the role, impact and perspectives of women in; Culture, Identity and Motherhood. These conversations seek to empower women in different stages of life, bringing together panellists from different cultural and professional backgrounds.

WHAT: Talk
WHEN: Thursday 7 Mar, 10:30am-2:30pm
WHERE: Casula Powerhouse
HOW MUCH: FREE, more details here

Heroine – Celebration and Protest in Women’s Art

Heroine celebrates the power of the female voice in public discourse. Bringing together emerging and established Australian artists such as Joan Ross, Karla Dickens, Hoda Afshar, Min Wong and Millie Mitchell, this exhibition underscores the frank, fearless, innovative, provocative, and determine voices of women artists now.

WHAT: Exhibition
WHEN: Friday 8 Mar, 9am-5pm
WHERE: M Contemporary
HOW MUCH: FREE, more details here

Well Made Clothes Pre-loved Clothing Fair

This International Women’s Day, Well Made Clothes are holding a clothing market with their nearest and dearest, selling pre-loved clothes (plus lots of delicious treats!) All proceeds from the sales will be donated to Lou’s Place, a unique, community based refuge for women in need of support.

WHAT: Market
WHEN: Saturday 9 Mar, 9am-3pm
WHERE: 2 Brompton St, Marrickville
HOW MUCH: FREE, more details here