‘Embrace Equity’ is the theme of International Women’s Day 2023, which has been chosen to highlight the difference between equity and equality and demonstrate the importance of equity in challenging gender stereotypes and ending discrimination. Founded in 1911, International Women’s Day serves to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness for women’s equality, lobby for gender parity and fundraise for female-focused charities. In 2023, this equates to a host of exciting talks, festivals, events and exhibitions, which are being held throughout March in honour of women around the world. Here’s how you can get involved…
Invest in female artists at The Other Art Fair
This March, Saatchi Art’s The Other Art Fair will return to the Truman Brewery with an exciting line-up of artists which foregrounds female creators. The Sistxrhood has created a site-specific installation for the fair while female tattoo artist Ally Ink will be offering appointments as part of her music-focused From Song to Skin project. Elsewhere, the wider line-up will feature 61 per cent female artists, including refugees from Ukraine, syria, Iran, Afghanistan and Saudia Arabia who are represented by Karmabank’s Rufugee Art Works programme, making it one of the most diverse and vibrant art shows taking palace in the capital this year.
9-10 March 2023, theotherartfair.com
Light a candle with The White Company
The White Company will be hosting a range of promotions to raise money for The Prince’s Trust’s #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign this International Women’s Day. The campaign, which is being supported by a number of different brands, aims to provide support to vulnerable women facing challenges such as long-term unemployment, homelessness, domestic violence and bullying.
From 2-8 March 2023, The White Company will donate £5 from the sale of its candles to The Prince’s Trust. Founder and CEO Chrissie Rucker has also designed the A Tiny Kiss necklace embellished with Swarovski crystals, from which £20 of every sale will go to the charity.
Visit thewhitecompany.com
Treat yourself to a spring wardrobe update
What’s better than something new and fabulous for your wardrobe? Something which also helps women and girls around the world. Bella Freud has created a limited edition T-shirt inspired by the book Feminist Posters, 1974-1990 and bearing the slogan ‘Women Hold Up the Sky’. 20 per cent of T-shirt sales throughout March will be donated to The Prince’s Trust’s #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign. Luxury swimwear label Heidi Klein will also be donating 15 per cent of all sales made online and in-store on 8 March 2023 to The Prince’s Trust.
Get a new headshot at The Marylebone
It’s often an afterthought but having a professional headshot with which to present yourself online and to new clients can make all the difference to securing career opportunities. In recognition of this, the Doyle Collection hotel group will be offering women the chance to have a headshot taken at The Marylebone in London, as well as The Bristol in Bristol, The Westbury in Dublin and The River Lee in Cork and The Dupont Circle in Washington D.C on 1 and 2 March 2023. In London, portraits will be shot by Lisa Tse, award-winning photographer and founder of The Sorority, a private society dedicated to championing and inspiring women. Reserve your space for £15, all of which will be donated to UNHCR to aid and protect refugees.
Add to your jewellery box
A great piece of jewellery can be a huge confidence boost and, in reflection of the power of their designs, a number of female-founded jewellery brands will be donating a portion of their proceeds to charities supporting female empowerment this International Women’s Day. Throughout March, London-based fine jeweller Rachel Boston, for example, will be giving 20 per cent of sales from her new Mama engrave memento ring to Women for Refugee Women, a female-led charity supporting women seeking refuge and asylum.
Mother-daughter design duo YSSO, meanwhile, will be donating 20 per cent of proceeds from their new Gold Abstraction huggie earrings, created in collaboration with artist Alexandria Coe, to the Schools Consent Project. SCP is a charity run by legal professionals and delivers workshops on consent at secondary schools and youth groups. Available from 1 March 2023.
Alex Monroe Hummingbird necklace
Elsewhere Alex Monroe has launched a One of a Kind sapphire collection created in collaboration with female-owned Sri Lankan lapidary Sunrise Facets. Founded by Nilanthi Thisera, the first woman in the country to own and run a lapidary, all the sapphires in the new collection have been cut by Sunrise Facets and set in 18ct fairmined gold.
Take in a show at the Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is pulling out all the stops with a range of events and initiatives this International Women’s Day. On 8 March, the Library Theatre will be hosting a performance of Joseph Toonga’s Born to Exist: The Woman I Know, followed by a panel discussion between Toonga, Royal Ballet creative producer Emma Southworth and dancers Aishwarya Raut, Nadia Gardner and Kloé Dean. From 8 March to 21 May 2023, the ROH will also be offering its HerStory tour, shining a light on the brilliant woman who have directed, worked on and performed in productions at the famed Covent Garden theatre.
Bid on a piece of art at Art on a Postcard
Hope is Everything by Victoria Cantons
Elsewhere by Jane Pine
For the fourth year running, Art on a Postcard is hosting an International Women’s Day charity auction in aid of the Hepatitis C Trust. This year, Art on a Postcard invited seven female curators to each put together a show comprising up to 25 female artists. Each curator has brought their own personal passions, interests and experiences to their collection, with highlights including works by artists such as Kim McCarty, Abigail Fallis, Nina Mae Fowler and Sara Berman. All bids start at £50.
23 February – 9 March 2023, artonapostcard.com
Be inspired at Gaucho
Head over to Gaucho Piccadilly on 8 March where Francesca Gamble will be hosting a live recording of her podcast Becoming More Human. For this special episode, Gamble will be joined by an inspiring panel of women, including DJ and We Are Superfoxx founder Krystal Roxx, Stylist commercial editorial director Susan Riley, Glass Half Full co-founder Immy Agnew and Beyond Retro marketing director Francesca Sieler to ask that eternal question: can women really have it all? Ticket holders will enjoy a complimentary Wonder Woman cocktail and 25 per cent off their food bill.
Get creative at the Kimpton Fitzroy
To mark International Women’s Day, the Kimpton Fitzroy will be launching its annual creative residency, which this year celebrates poetry. Drawing on Bloombury’s literary history and the hotel’s heritage as the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst, the Kimpton Fitzroy will welcome creative-in-residence Hayley Frances, as well as offering a curated program of events including monthly creative open houses, poetry slams and lectures. There will also be limited edition poetry-inspired cocktails at Fitz’s bar while, throughout March, Burr & Co. will serve a special menu inspired by The Suffragette Cookbook.
Visit kimptonfitzroylondon.com
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