International Women’s Day 2019: What’s on in Birmingham
Laura Sanders
March 1, 2019
International Women’s Day is coming up and this year’s campaign theme is ‘Balance for Better‘.
The 2019 #BalanceforBetter campaign runs all year long. It doesn’t end on International Women’s Day.
The campaign theme provides a unified direction to guide and galvanize continuous collective action, with ‘Balance for Better’ activity reinforced and amplified all year.
There are some great events happening around Birmingham to celebrate, most of which are free!
Adam Yosef International Women’s Day 2019
The first IWD took place in 1911 and over one million people celebrated. This year, the campaign theme is ‘Balance for Better’, which promotes the idea that there needs to be a collective force driving gender balance. You can find out more about this year’s campaign on the official IWD website here.
Adam Yosef IWD in Birmingham
There are guest speakers to bring out your inner boss woman, workshops and even some dancing along the way. Take a look at some of the events taking place across Birmingham for IWD below.
BBC Birmingham ‘Fierce Women in Media’
When: Tuesday 5th March
Where: the Glee Club
Price: FREE
‘Fierce Women in Media’ is a campaign aimed at young people who want to break in to the media. In the weeks leading up, BBC Three and BBC Birmingham have been spreading the campaign across social media, asking people to send in their photos of their inspirational messages. Throughout the day, you will have chance to meet some of the media’s boss women and learn a trick or two in a series of workshops. There are also some practical sessions, such as having chance to film yourself giving a pitch and getting feedback from the team at BBC Three! You can also apply to be at an exclusive screening of BBC Three’s new ‘Glow Up’ featuring Stacey Dooley and MAC’s global senior artist Dominic Skinner.
All are welcome. You can register your interest here, and for the screening of ‘Glow Up’ here. Be quick! Tickets are almost gone!
BBCWest Midlands Women’s Voice ‘In conversation with Dr Helen Pankhurst’
When: Wednesday 6th March
Where: The Custard Factory
Price: FREE
Dr Helen Pankhurst comes from a long line of powerful women. She is the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, leaders of the British suffragette movement. On 6th March, Helen will be delivering a key note speech as well as a series of workshops with fellow members of West Midlands Women’s Voice.
Register your interest here.
WMWV Tech Office ‘Women in tech’ meet-up
When: Friday 8th March
Where: The Old Crown
Price: FREE
What did we say about there being wine involved? Tech Office at ASOS are hosting a networking evening for women who work in technology. The aim is to promote #BalanceforBetter and provide a space for women in the tech industry to meet up and have a chat over a glass of wine (or two!).
Register your interest here.
Women in Tech PMT ‘Women-only’ Disco
When: Friday 8th March
Where: Impact Hub
Price: FREE (donate what you feel)
PMT which stands for ‘Powering the Matriarchy Together’ are taking us back to the seventies with a night of disco and live music.
Organiser Ali Baskerville told us, “This is going to be a women and non-binary only event based on the fact that in the 1970’s there were female only discos in Birmingham. We’re bringing it back to life whist being more progressive in how we understand womanhood in 2019.”
For more information, to get your tickets and to see confirmed live acts, visit ImpactHub.net.
PMT The Empowerment Project ‘Stand Tall & Walk Sassy’ masterclass
When: Sunday 10th March
Where: DanceXchange
Price: £5.83
Birmingham University law graduate and dancer, Grace is hosting a good ol’ sassy Beyonce-styled dance workshop for the launch of her new campaign The Empowerment Project. Grace has been dancing since she was very young and was told she needed to be skinnier to be a dancer. She has endured bullying and knocks to her confidence growing up. Now, with this campaign she hopes she can promote self-confidence and urge women to support one another with #queensfixcrowns.
Grace has confirmed some celebrity panelists and guest speakers at the workshop and welcomes individuals and groups of all ages and abilities. She hopes this will be the first of many empowerment workshops.
Tickets can be purchased here.
The Empowerment Project Book launch – Once upon a time in Birmingham: women who dared to dream
When: Sunday 10th March
Where: Waterstones, High Street
Price: £3 (redeemable against a copy of the book)
Once upon a time in Birmingham: women who dared to dream is a collection of stories from Birmingham’s most influential women. The book has been written by Birmingham City Council who have teamed up with local authors, illustrators and publishers. The book “aims to inspire the city’s next generation of female achievers, leaders and pioneers.” On the day, you have the chance to meet some of the powerful women who have inspired the book.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Waterstones COBO Queens of Comedy IWD special
When: Sunday 10th March
Where: the Glee Club
Price: £16.58 upwards
If you fancy a giggle, then COBO (Comedy Of Black Origin) are hosting a women’s day special evening at the Glee Club. COBO Events host comedy and entertainment shows from black origin. The COBO Queens appearing in this Women’s Day special are Maureen Younger (Band Of Brothers, MY Comedy), Dana Alexander (CTV, The Comedy Channel), Glenda Jaxson (BBC Blouse & Skirt) and Judi Love (BBC, ITV, Pranksterz, 1Xtra).
Tickets can be purchased here.
COBO BAD GIRLS PRESENTS x Slag Mag! launch party
When: Friday 8th March
Where: The Castle & Falcon, Moseley
Price: £6.50
BAD GIRLS PRESENTS are a community-organisation who celebrate female talent across the Midlands. On Friday, they are celebrating IWD and the launch of their new magazine Slag Mag (Serious Ladies of Art & Gigs!). There are singers and DJs at the party with music ranging from smooth jazz to 80s, pop and punk. There will also be art on display and for sale. The party goes on from 8 til’ late.
Find out more about the event and tickets here.
BAD GIRLS PRESENTS #DIDFest2019: Women in tech
When: 8th March-7th April
Where: various locations across Birmingham
Price: FREE
DIDFest (Diversity In Digital) has a multitude of events on offer across Birmingham, starting with IWD on Friday 8th March. DIDFest is geared towards young women in the media and tech industries with varying degrees of experience and knowledge. Visit their website to see the array of events on offer, from The Big Bang at NEC to ASOS Hackathnos, guest speakers from leading industry professionals and workshops for surviving as a woman in media.
To find out more and sign up, click here.
DIDFest How are you celebrating International Women’s Day in Birmingham? Who are the inspirational women in your life?
Keep us up to date on Twitter or email us [email protected].
From the team at I Am Birmingham, happy International Women’s Day!
