Women of the World Festival wows with girl power

The highly anticipated WOW - Women of the World Festival left a trail of inspiration and empowerment with an impressive turnout of 3,000 attendees in a single day.

Held across the town’s centre, it brought together women, girls and non-binary individuals for captivating workshops, talks, performances, concerts, and exciting pop-ups.

The festival's diverse and inspiring schedule catered to a wide range of interests. With engaging talks covering critical topics, such as gender equality, parenting and childcare, work and skills, diversity and a warm welcome, body positivity, safety, gender identity and sexuality, mental health and wellbeing, and multiple interactive and exciting activities for all guests.

From free workshops like life drawing, making exploding rainbows, festival-inspired temporary tattoos, and zine making, to yoga sessions, aerial hoops, and the contagious energy of a silent disco, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

As well as all the music performances from 12 local artists in different genres were unforgettable highlights of the day.

Speaking about the festival, Helen Jones from Flux Rotherham, part of the National Arts Council Creative People and Places Programme, said: “We couldn't be more delighted with the success of the WOW Rotherham festival and the incredible impact it has had on the WOW community that we are building.

"It's inspiring to see how the festival has developed and grown and used Town Centre businesses and outdoor sites this year. We’re looking forward to talking to all of our community partners and ambassadors to plan for the future!"

Leanne Buchan, Rotherham Council’s Head of Creative & Programming & Engagement said: “It was fantastic to see Rotherham Town Centre brought to life in this wonderful celebration of women and non-binary communities.

"To have local businesses at the heart of our events is vital to the future of the Town Centre and it has been a pleasure to work alongside cafés, shops and communities to not only celebrate the festival but to shine a light on the businesses that are here all year round.”

For more information about WOW Festival, please visit their website at wow.fluxrotherham.org.uk.

The WOW Foundation was created by Jude Kelly CBE in 2018 to run the global movement that is WOW - Women of the World Festivals.

Festivals began in the UK in 2010, launched by Kelly at the Southbank Centre London, where she was Artistic Director, to celebrate women and girls, taking a frank look at what prevents them from achieving their potential, raising awareness globally of the issues they face, and discussing solutions together.

To date, WOW has reached over five million people in 30 locations on six continents, in locations including Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Finland, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Somaliland, the UK and the USA.

Over the last 10 years the Festivals have developed a reputation as a space for world-renowned artists, activists, thinkers and performers including Angela Davis, Malala Yousafzai, Annie Lennox, Patrick Stewart, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Salma Hayek, to come and participate, alongside thousands of women and girls who don’t have public profiles but are doing amazing things.

WOW provides platforms for people of all kinds, changes attitudes, brings communities together and provides a unique space for people to work together towards gender equality in their own communities. One example of the impact of the festival came in 2015, with the founding of the Women’s Equality Party by Sandi Toksvig and Catherine Mayer.

In 2018 Kelly left the Southbank Centre to run The WOW Foundation full-time as a charity working to build, convene and sustain a global movement that believes a gender-equal world is possible and desirable through festivals and empowering women and girls.

The unique festival model creates numerous pathways for participants to take part in WOW projects, amplify their own causes, or start new initiatives which have a wide impact on communities.

It is the biggest, most comprehensive and most significant festival dedicated to presenting work by women and promoting equality for women and girls.