FESTIVAL COMING 6-8TH MARCH 2020


PROGRAMME


FRIDAY // TRASHFUTURE


TrashFuture Logo
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Trashfuture

Live Podcast


Hamilton House 20:00-21:30


SATURDAY

SATURDAY 10.00-11.30 12.00-13.30 14.30-16.00 16.30-18.00 19.00-20.30
Malcolm X Bristol and Empire
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Bristol and Empire

Speakers: Edson Burton, Lawrence Hoo, Madhu Krishnan, Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley (chair)

Bristol, despite it's liberal posturing, is a city who's history is intrinsically linked with the British Empire, slavery and the historic crimes that went with it.

So much of the effort to engage with this History is stuck simply trying to stop the open celebration of the perpetrators of these crimes.

In this panel we will be trying to move beyond this. We'll ask, what would a radical approach to engaging with Bristol's imperialist past look like? What can activists themselves do to resist the empire apologists and to force the city to engage with it's dark past and take meaningful steps towards making amends?

Getting real with strategy
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Getting real with strategy

Speakers: James Meadway, Sarah Jaffe, Archie Woodrow, Kulsoom Jafri

There has been a resurgence of leftwing organisations, think tanks, activists, politicians and ideas in recent years, and in America it seems the left is on the brink of power. But all of this happened almost accidentally, and without serious strategic thought. In this session we ask activists from the UK and the States how the left can coordinate with effective strategy to win power.

No Human is Illegal
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No Human is Illegal

Speakers: Lowkey, Sabrina Huck, Alena Ivanova, Nadine El-Enany, Ben Smoke

With the rise of disaster nationalism, the climate emergency, devastating conflicts, children in cages on the US border and tragic deaths from human trafficking in the UK, all this and more surely goes to show that borders equal violence and discrimination in the 21st century. In this session we explore the possibilities of a world free from the violence of borders, and how we can get there.

Make all drugs legal?
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Make all drugs legal?

Speakers: Dr Emily Crick, James Nicholls, Thangam Debbonaire MP, Tommy Corbyn

We will discuss the pitfalls of existing drug policy, and issues with policy processes, blocks and the potential for movement in Parliament. We will also discuss the possibilities for drug reform with reference to policies internationally, nationally and in a local Bristol context.

We Can't win without Trade Unions
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We Can't win without Trade Unions

Speakers: Robert Wotherspoon, Robert Maisey, Joanne Kaye, Narzanin Massoumi

Trade Unions are the foundation of the socialist movement and the welfare state, but they risk crumbling under assault from Tory legislation diminishing membership and a changing economy. Workers are producing unprecedented wealth while ever fewer billionaires hoard it. To change the balance of forces, and to unleash the potential of our society its only the organised working class that has the power to do it.

This panel brings together representatives from across the union movement to talk about the threats and the opportnites for the union movement.

PRSC ACORN Workshop
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ACORN

ACORN have a solid, proven track record in winning what they fight for through organising for power in neighbourhoods, cities and across the country.

Focusing on issues around housing, transport, local services and whatever else members want to campaign on, the fast growing union has a solid model - they win the campaign whilst building the union ready for the next bigger fight - organising for power.

In this part practical, part discussion based workshop ACORN members will take you through how we work, why we do what we do and what sets our model of community organising apart from other methods.

Student housing
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Student housing: university in crisis

Ruth Day, Scotty Jennings, Amelia Horgan, Cllr Paul Smith

Student housing has always been a contentious issue but the explosion in student numbers following New Labour’s Higher Education push has stretched some cities to breaking point. At the same time, developers and wealthy investors have seen the market potential in student housing and have pushed for the further commodification of the student experience. Think £800 a month rooms in an apartment block with a swimming pool and cinema! How do city councils navigate their relationships with Universities, who on the one hand bring investment and employment to a city but on the other expand too rapidly, placing strain on resources and the housing market? How can students who seem powerless to the forces of landlords and capital resist this process?

Community Wealth Building
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Community Wealth Building

Speakers: Martin Parker, Malu garcia, Anita Mangan, Jules Peck, Neil McInroy

After the 2019 election many of us were left wondering - where do we go from here?

We may have lost the battle but the war isn’t over. We have a network of activist ready and rearing to go. What better way to channel that energy than into community wealth building projects?

But what is community wealth building (CWB)? It's predicated on the idea that the best way to reduce excessive wealth inequality, and promote universal prosperity, is to build a system where people share in the wealth they collectively produce. This is achieved by promoting cooperative businesses, community land trusts, housing co-ops and other such initiatives. In short – CWB aims to transition towards a cooperative economy from the bottom up!

Sound good? In this panel we discuss the successes of previous CWB projects, such as The Preston Model, and how we can replicate it here in Bristol.

Political Blackness
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Political Blackness

Speakers: Edson Burton, Samuel Kalejaiye, Rahila Gupta (Southall Black Sisters)

Historically in the UK many migrants and descendants of migrants organised together to combat racism under the banner of Political Blackness. People of different national and ethnic backgrounds fought racism here and organised against injustices taking place abroad, such as Apartheid in South Africa, using this organising principal, often drawing inspiration from Anti-Colonial and Anti-Racist movements and thinkers internationally. Today it has become increasingly common for people and activists of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds to move away from this sort of collective organising and to identify more closely with a particular ethnic, national or religious identity. Some would argue this allows for more nuance and specificity to enter the discourse around race and racism. Often the difference of emphasis emerges from a generational divide. Are communities of visibly ethnic difference benefiting from a more nuanced a particular approach to the question of ethnic identity, or are we losing a sense of solidartity and collective endevor, or does the answer lie somewhere between?

Mindfulness, Capitalism, and Mental Health
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Mindfulness, Capitalism, and Mental Health

Speakers: Stephen Stanley

Mindfulness is now a common feature of many workplaces. Yet the number of sick days due to stress continue to rise year on year. Often mindfulness is used in place of meaningful change in workplace conditions a way to paper over the contradictions of our current economic system. In this workshop with Cardiff UCU activist and psychologist Steven Stanley, you can explore how mindfulness is used by capital to placate workers and resist structural changes. Further, you will discuss how the left can reclaim the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and contemplative practices and integrate them into our praxis.

Docklands Lounge Neo-classical economics
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Arguments against Neo-classical economics

Have you ever heard an economist or right-wing politician say something you know just isn’t right – but you can’t quite place your finger on what it is? It's easy to get lost when economists and politicians use confusing jargon to obfuscate the truth, masquerading political-ideology as fact. Are skinny jeans and avocado toast really the reason that young people these days can’t get on the property ladder? (...of course not!)

In this workshop we give you a crash course in debunking right-wing economic tropes, giving you the tools you need to start deconstructing the jargon to get to the facts!

This workshop will be run by the Rentier Abolition Project (see rentierabolition.org). Bo Donoghue is a doctoral candidate in Public Policy at the University of Bath and Raven Hart a financial analyst with a Masters of Research in Political-Economy.

Path to Power Policy Lab
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Path to Power Policy Lab

Over the past few weeks, RLB has been setting out her path to power - a four-point plan to win the next election and give people hope that change is possible.

But to make it a reality, she needs you. Our team are running Path to Power policy labs in over 25 locations across the country so you and other Labour members can help develop our plan.

We can only build our path to power as an engaged, participatory and collective movement. At these policy labs, you'll participate in facilitated discussions on the four-point plan and put forward ideas to be adopted by the campaign.

Speaking to your Neighbour
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Speaking to your neighbour about Politics

Speakers: Leo Nikolaidas

Do you find it difficult to speak about politics to friends and family? This workshop looks at why this can be so difficult, and how we can overcome it and make politics accessible and even fun to talk about! Come along to practice these discussions in a relaxed, friendly environment, and think about how we can look at political discussions differently!

RUGBY: Eng vs. Wal
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Watch the Rugby With Comrades

Politics is, of course, important but it's Wales vs England in the 6 Nations... Come to the lounge and watch the match together.

You can talk about its political implications if you want... just do it quietly.

Docklands Sports Art, Power and Ideology
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Art, Power and Ideology

Speakers: Will Taylor, Juliet Jaques

Does art reflect society or does society reflect art? Art and culture contribute to the lenses through which we all view the world. Whether mainstream music and films, a feminist exhibit in a community centre, or this week's episode of Love Island, nothing that's produced is neutral in the ideas that underpin it.

With arts funding increasingly centralised in large institutions such as the Arts Council this discussion will look at who gets to make the decisions on what is deemed acceptable or socially useful and what that might mean for the wider cultural landscape. When marketisation is the driving force behind so much of our culture, does what we're consuming propagandise those markets without us realising.

Despite the constant lip service paid to diversity in the arts, structurally the industry is more exclusionary in many ways than it was 30 years ago. This results in what is being produced, for the most part, reflecting existing power structures rather than being allowed to challenge them. It will look at how middle class 'taste' and large funding bodies such as ACE determine what is produced and for who, re-enforcing the status quo and making it harder for radical artists and the left as a whole to tell their stories.

Imperialism Isn't Dead
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Imperialism Isn't Dead

Speakers: Alice Proctor, Shabbir Lakha, Narzanin Massoumi

Imperialism as we know it — central to the destruction and exploitation of autonomous states and peoples — did not end centuries ago. Instead of colonising through brute force, today’s imperialism has the face of capital along with the threat of colonial rule. From debt and arms sales to cultural domination and biased curriculum, imperialism is embedded in our society in all forms. What are the available tactics for resistence, and how can we move toward at true end to imperialism? This panel sheds light on the current campaigns for revolutionary, global change.

Green New Deal
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Green New Deal: What's next?

Speakers: Chris Saltmarsh, Zarah Sultana MP, Karen Bell, Daniela Gabor

The election result was a blow to climate activists, our hope of having a government that would implement the Green New Deal vanished before our eyes. We have 10 years left to prevent irreversible damage to our climate and a government that won’t engage seriously with the climate crisis. So where do we go from here? How do we adapt the Green New Deal strategy now the Tories are in government?

History of Socialism
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History of Socialism - This Isn't Our First Rodeo

Speakers: Jayne Pascoe, Rhian E Jones, Jack Shenker, Marcus Barnett

In the shadow of a December election which saw a significant defeat for the resurgent British left, we look to the history of socialism and its movements in this country and around the world in an effort to place the current political moment the historical context. We will be discussing how the left has recovered in the past and what we can learn from that work. Join us as we look to learn from our past and what it means for our future.

Progressive Nationalism
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Progressive Nationalism

Speakers: Harriet Protheroe Davies, Dan Evans

Nationalism is often demonised on the left. It is used as a shorthand for reactionary little Englanders. Rebecca Long-Bailey was criticised by many for daring to suggest that the Labour Party implement progressive nationalism as part of their programme.

Yet just down the road from Bristol, in Wales, many of the most progressive politicians and political actors come through the nationalists movement for Welsh Independence.

This panel is an exploration of whether nationalism can play a positive and negative role as part of a Socialist project and debate whether the idea of "Progressive Nationalism" needs to be taken more seriously by the British left.

Hamilton House
Event Space
Sex Work & the Fight for Decrim
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Sex Work & the Fight for Decrim

Speakers: Trixie (SWARM), Charlotte (ECP), Katie Cruz

Sex work is often described as the world's oldest profession. Why then are so many in the Labour party and union movement hesitant to recognise sex workers and their rights at work as equal to other workers? We shall look to discuss the various legal models proposed to make sex work safer and empower workers, and why the left is having such difficulty coming to a consensus on this, often ignoring the voice of workers in favour of moralistic and dangerous solutions. Various campaigns exist to tackle this: worker-led SWARM and ECP Decrim Now in the labour party to union branches of GMB and UVW, workers are fighting to be heard and have their rights taken seriously.

School to Prison
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The School to Prison Pipeline

Speakers: Lana Crosby

No More Exclusions (NME) is a new UK radical grassroots coalition movement. Their mission is to bring about an end to the persistent race-disparities in school exclusions in the next five years and to affect change at a legal, policy, practice and cultural level in education and society as a whole over the next ten years.

In this workshop you will learn more about NME and the context in which it fits not just in schools but the subsequent trends of excluded children, disproportionately BAME and SEND, who are ending up in our prison system. In addition to contributions from parents, educators and activists you will have a chance to hear from young people who’ve experienced the exclusion system for themselves as well as testimonials of people still incarcerated.

In the short time since it’s founding NME has already made significant inroads in the discussion around exclusions through media coverage and the hard work of it’s activists. Come and find out more about this movement and how you can be part of creating an education system that works for all.

Left community utopia
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What does a left community utopia look like?

Speakers: Owen Hatherly

With at least five years of Conservative rule ahead of us, power will not be changing at the top anytime soon in this country. One question the new left formed under Corbynism will face, now that we’ll never see a Corbyn government, is: can you create an enclave of socialism in capitalism, and build out from there? If we do try to protect ourselves over the next few years and carve out our own spaces, we’ll be following in the footsteps of 200 years of utopian experiments in this country, managing to exist both within and against capitalism and the capitalist state, all the way from New Lanark in the 1810s to the Greater London Council in the 1980s. What sort of socialist spaces have been carved out in capitalist circumstances? What sort of socialism did they imagine? Which of them managed to endure, and what can we learn from them today? And what sort of experiments might be possible in the immediate future?

The Glass Half-Empty
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The Glass Half-Empty

Speakers: Rodrigo Aguilera

Book Launch for The Glass Half-Empty: Debunking the Myth of Progress in the Twenty-First Century

Environmental Activism
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Environmental Activism: Strategy Matters

Speakers: Dr Oscar Berglund, Chris Saltmarsh, Izzy Smythman

With 10 years left to prevent irreversible damage to our climate and a government utterly uninterested in engaging seriously with climate change, we have to step up our fight. But how? We’ve had decades of letter-writing, lobbying campaigns, direct action on fracking sites and coal mines, divestment campaigns targeting businesses and Universities but is this enough? Should we be changing our strategy, moving onto the streets, causing disruption to big businesses in the City? Or will getting arrested save the planet?

In the past two years, Extinction Rebellion, Youth Strike for Climate, Labour for a Green New Deal have all emerged fighting. Do these new organisations have the answers to fight climate change?

Hamilton House
Mild West Room
Data, Work & Resistance
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Work: Data & Resistance in the Gig Economy and Beyond

Speakers: Lina Dencik and Alex Wood

The rapid development of technologies powered by the collection of data is said to be transforming key aspects of social life, not least the nature of work. Much attention has been on the advent of automation as potentially displacing jobs, or on new forms of labour emerging on and through platforms in a growing gig economy. Standard employment, from retail to hospitality, is also being transformed with the implementation of data-driven tools. Premised on promises of greater efficiency and cost-savings, these technologies are quickly becoming attractive for hiring, directing, monitoring, and assessing workers, often undermining the conditions and rights of workers. How can we resist the exploitative nature of the algorithmic workplace? In this workshop we will discuss different strategies for worker resistance in a digital age, looking at ways of using technologies to mobilise, game and organise alternatives in the gig economy and beyond.

How to Start a Co-op
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How to start a co-op

Speakers: Alon Avriam

Co-operatives give us an insight into a different way of organising our economy. Business where the workers are in control rather than the bosses.

They allow for businesses that are centred on human flourishing and community rather than greed and profit.

Join Alon from The Bristol Cable, Bristol's very own Cooperatively run community newspaper, to learn from his experience and discuss how to go about setting up your very own cooperative.

Continuing to Build Left Policy
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Faiza Shaheen: Continuing to Build Left Ideas and Policy

Faiza Shaheen, Director of CLASS think tank, economist, writer and activist will be joining us to host a workshop titled Continuing to Build Left Ideas and Policy:

What do we know about Johnsonomics so far and what does it mean for the arguments we should be making? Join this session to make sense of what we are likely to see in Chancellor Sunak’s first Budget next week, and how we cut through the propaganda to explain the need for a Green Industrial Revolution, ending austerity and tackling inequality (for real!).

Worker Power
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Worker Power in just over an hour

Strong workplace unions mean better safer and happier jobs, Burt dignity at work doesn't come easy.

This practical and interactive workshop from Bristol Union school uses proven strategies help you andbgiven an understanding of what union organising is and how to systematically and effectively take the first steps to a strong workplace union of your own.

Saving Neurodiversity
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Saving Neurodiversity from Capitalism

Rob Chapman

While societies need all kinds of minds to flourish, we have pathologised, disabled, and medicalised a sizable minority of the human population. This is what the neurodiversity movement arose to resist, showing how neurominorities provide niche contributions that are often overlooked on overly individualistic, deficit-based medical models. In this roundtable discussion, we will discuss how this reframing relates to the association between value and productivity prevalent in capitalist societies, how neurodivergence interacts with neoliberalism and intersects with other identities, and the emancipatory potential of the neurodiversity paradigm.

Hamilton House
Art Room
UCU Zine Making
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Zine making with UCU Anti-precarity Cymru

Rowan Campbell, Grace Kraus

Anti-Precarity Cymru is a collective of precariously-employed staff and students in Higher Education. Since the UCU strikes of 2018, we've been creating zines as a way to show solidarity, raise awareness of various issues in HE, and provide a bit of irreverent humour to help us deal with our experiences working in HE. Zines are DIY mini-magazines with low production values (can be reproduced using work's photocopier...) and a radical nature, as they are not made for profit and allow voices outside of the mainstream to be heard. This workshop will introduce zines as creative resistance to precarious working and living situations, and will be a hands-on session with a few formats and prompt questions to work with so please don't be shy if you've never 'zined' before!

Unlock Democracy
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Unlock Democracy: Constitutional Reform

Rob Abrams

In this workshop, we will work together to gain a basic understanding of the British constitution and the worrying changes proposed by the Tory government.

We'll explore the question of what we mean by ‘constitutional reform’ and demonstrate how this goes beyond changing the electoral system.

Commonwealth: GND
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Commonwealth: Green New Deal

Josh Gabart-Doyon

The next stage for a just transition, looking at trade and finance in the post-Brexit context, the role of local authorities, and how we can use public health and social care to understand how to design just and equitable economic and climate policy, as part of an ambitious decarbonisation plan. A crash course in what's next for green activism and policy work from Common Wealth.

BT PARTY // 10pm-3am // KUUMBA CENTRE



SUNDAY // INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

SUNDAY 10.00-11.30 12.00-13.30 14.30-16.00 16.30-18.00 18.30-21.00
Malcolm X Getting Women in Power
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Getting Women in Positions of Power

Speakers: Huda Elmi, Rachel Godfrey Wood, Maryan Afrah

100 years after women won the right to vote, why are we still under-represented in positions of power? How come most decision makers are still men? And why is this the case even within the left, with its strong feminist history? Come hear experienced activists discuss: their own experiences; how gender intersects with class, race, and culture; and what we can do to promote better representation, within the left and in society at large.

Creating Radical Media
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Creating Radical Media

Speakers: Sarah Jaffe, AngieSpeaks

We will reflect on the importance of a broad range of cultural practice being produced by the left, not just news media and radical challengers such as Novara.

Liberal feminism
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The Problem with Liberal Feminism

Speakers: Lola Olufemi, Finn Mckay, Beth redmond

In order for feminism to be a truly emancipatory movement, it has to challenge all structures of domination. Unfortunately, liberal feminism fails in this regard, because it preserves the logics of a capitalist system that allows for rampant exploitation. A society where women can reach positions of power is insufficiently reformed if women in those positions of power can dominate working class people across the globe. This panel will discuss the ‘liberal feminist mistake’ of prioritising form over substance, and explore what an alternative radical feminism looks like.

NFS Shared meal
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National Food Service - Shared meal

The National Food Service is hosting a 3 course pay-what-you-can communal meal to round off Bristol Transformed, because over the dining table is where some of the most exciting plans are made. Come join us to find out what practical work you can do right now to build your community.

The food will all be mostly vegan with non-gluten containing options available (though kitchen will use gluten in other recipes) - If you have any specific requirements email [email protected] and we’ll see what we can do

PRSC Towards Trans Liberation
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Towards Trans Liberation

In a time where relatively minor reforms to the Gender Recognition Act have created a moral panic around trans people’s participation in public life, it’s worth asking what the roots of transphobia are, and how it manifests today. LCTR Chair Torr and NUS Trans Officer Eden will help investigate socialist approaches for trans liberation, how trans phobia affects trans people materially and discursively, and what the socialist response and methods to combat these issues should be. This collaborative workshop will include developing practical means to identify transphobia, organise against it in your communities, CLPs and movements, and create a shared vision towards trans liberation through solidarity.

How the Right Hate Women Singing workshop
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Singing workshop: Our Legacy of Left-wing & Feminist Songs

Music, and particularly singing, is one of the oldest forms of joy and community. Come along to learn classic left-wing and feminist songs and chants, and experience the collective joy from singing with fellow comrades! No talent or previous experience needed - all abilities (and genders) welcome!

Docklands Sports Feminist fighting skills: workshop
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Feminist fighting skills: Workshop

16+ but 14+ if accompanied by responsible adult.

Want to feel more confident? Stronger? Faster? Want to know you’ve got some skills and knowledge to help you in those tricky situations- out and about, socialising with friends, or just being a female, you know, doing life?

Come to this Feminist Fighting Skills Workshops and learn to arm yourself with some basic tools to tackle aggression and neutralise threats. There’s no need to tell YOU how much we are at increasing risk. We need to avoid confrontations but also to defend ourselves against all types violence as and when needed.

Whatever your age or ability, there are things you can do to maximise your safety and boost your confidence. They aren’t complicated to understand and though you’ll need practice and dedication, they are simple to learn.

Economic Patriarchy
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Economic Patriarchy

Speakers: Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse

Since the 1970s the number of women in work has risen significantly, yet there has been no corresponding decrease in societal need for domestic, reproductive, emotional and other kinds of labour outside of the workplace. Instead, this work - often unpaid and unrecognised by official measures such as GDP - is in even greater need, as the post-war social safety net has been eroded by free market, Thatcherite economic policies. Within the workplace women have to contend with increasingly insecure jobs, the glass ceiling and a gender pay gap which only increases after motherhood.

Join us to discuss the gendered impact of neoliberal economics, such as Tory Austerity, how they disproportionately affect BAME women and low-income women, and - crucially - what can be done to create a fairer, more equitable economy

Hamilton House
Event Space
Dance Workshop
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Feminist empowerment: dance workshop

Open to women and non-binary people only. Ages 16+, or 14+ if accompanied by a responsible adult.

Suzette Neptune. Movement, Martial Arts & Dance Specialist

Explore your journey through empowering Dance & Movement. Using a range of contemporary dance techniques, throw yourself into time, rhythm and space.

Waking up the body, breathing through the pelvis, using a grounded series of warm up exercises on the 􀁆oor, we capture the essence of Martha Graham’s uniquely powerful style.

Freeing our inhibitions, we learn a standing centre sequence which will shake away the fear we have of enjoying our bodies in motion. We will be taking on the luxurious flow of Mary Wigman, the sumptuous simplicity of Isadora Duncan and the sensuality of Pina Bausch.

Women in the Miner’s Strike
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Women’s role in the miner’s strike

Speakers: Sian James, Natalie Tomlinson, Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite

We’ve all seen Pride, right? A beautiful story of solidarity between oppressed groups coming together to fight their common enemy: Thatcher. Well, if you cried during Pride wait until you watch Women of the Rhondda, a documentary of women recounting their experiences of living in mining communities during the 1926 General Strike. Following a screening of this short documentary, we have a panel of women to discuss their knowledge and experience of the 1984-5 Miners Strike.

The Global Labour Movement
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Women in the Global Labour movement

Speakers: Martha de Bruxelles, Su Lin Lewis, Sasha Josette

Working women across the world face significant challenges, including state repression, sexist violence, unequal pay for equal work, unrecognised work, and more. This panel discusses the international coalition of women who are currently fighting to resist their exploitation by global capital. In women-dominated industries like garment manufacturing, cleaning, nursing, etc., real change is only possible with a mobilised workforce. Our panellists will speak about ongoing efforts in the labour movement and highlight what the movement can do to empower women in work around the world.

Women in undervalued work
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Organising women in undervalued work

Speakers: Charlotte Bence, Kate Leslie

Capitalism grossly undervalues the work typically done by women — economically and culturally. This panel highlights the many different experiences of women leading the struggle for better pay, dignity at work and fair treatment. From carers to cleaners, typically undervalued jobs are ripe for, which further increases the need for organising in these sectors, here from women leading the fight against it.

Hamilton House
Mild West Room
Digital Feminism
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Digital Feminism and Online Activism

This workshop involves discussing and mapping (including through drawing) what digital feminism and online activism is and can be. Accounting for the interlocking nature of sexism, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, transphobia and other forms of oppression, this workshop is a chance to reflect on different approaches to and examples of digital feminism. It includes recognition of opportunities and challenges involved in online forms of activism and collective organising supported by social media. Overall, this workshop focuses on understanding digital feminist developments and the various roles that social media plays in contemporary resistant movements and activist struggles.

Economics 101
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Economics 101: No Questions too Stupide

Speakers: Susan Newman

Economic jargon can often be confusing and intimidating, and leave us too scared to engage in discussions on money, finance, the economy, and the banking system. But a lot of the jargon is just used to keep it inaccessible and the layman from understanding and questioning the prevailing wisdom. We on the left need to get better at making economic arguments and persuading people that neoliberalism and capitalism aren't the only options and another way is possible.

Come along to ask those questions you have always been too scared to. How does money work? What exactly did cause the banking crisis? How can a country owe millions of pounds ... TO ITSELF?!?!?

Restoring Legal Aid
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Restoring Legal Aid is a Feminist Issue

Speakers: Sian James, Sian Pearce, Saira Anwar

Cuts to legal aid have prevented fair access to justice for thousands of people. In a system already rigged against women the impact will always fall hardest on those facing oppression. Not only must we be demanding criminal justice reform but also fair access to civil justice for all. Women looking to escape abuse and exploitation are prevented from doing so by not having enough money to access legal representation. Join us to discuss the real impact that these cuts have had on people's lives, what we must be demanding to ensure safety and rights are maintained, and how we get there.

Hamilton House
Art Room
Life drawing
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Life drawing - age 16+

Chloe Greenfield

Often we’re shown the body in certain ‘acceptable’ ways; often quite sexualised ones, which can take the power from the person being viewed and give it to the viewer. Advertising shows us how the body ‘should’ look and creates a very homogeneous representation of the body.

Traditionally, life drawing was quite a male-dominated field, with the (usually young, passive) woman as a model. Now it’s diversifying, life drawing is a great platform for celebrating the body in a non-sexual way and creating art together in a safe, accepting environment

In this one and a half hour life-drawing session there will be a series of shorter poses and exploration of different drawing styles, then we'll move onto a few longer poses.

This class is an open and welcoming space, so don't worry if you've never drawn before. It's a fun, informal environment and it's all about play and exploring various mark-making and observational drawing techniques.

Open to all who are age 16+. Materials provided, or you can bring your own if you prefer.

Please bring your own portable easel if you require one.

Women's work
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Women's work

Institute for Public Policy Research

Lesley Rankin, Researcher, IPPR

Rachel Statham, Senior Research Fellow, IPPR Scotland

Through an interactive workshop, we'll explore participants’ experience of unpaid work and care, how care work relates to the wider economy and how policy and technology could change this in the future.

We'll explore how both public provision and labour market regulation could be reformed to address the care gap. In the UK, unpaid work, primarily carried out by women and including caring as well as household work, was calculated to have a total value of £1.01 trillion in 2014. Those on lower incomes are also more likely to do unpaid work.



If you've come back from a category 1 country in the last 2 weeks or have flu-like symptoms please think twice about attending the festival. Also, wash your hands!

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FREE CRECHE


Sat 7th Mar, 9.45am to 6.15pm

Sun 8th Mar, 11.45am to 6.15pm

Venue: Malcolm X Centre, Harambe building.

Children will be booked in on the day on a first come basis, until at capacity for that session.

Each creche session is for 2 hours, from 15 mins before each panel/ workshop to 15 minutes after each finishes.

Ages 2-7 years.

For older children, contact us first so we can assess whether we can cater for you.

Our creche is provided by Play Wooden CIC (www.playwooden.co.uk), who are based at Malcolm X Centre and they provide their own 'Bio Playspace' wooden play equipment, designed to stimulate curiosity and encourage cooperative play. Parents/guardians are welcome to stay and play with their child(ren).



CLICK VENUE FOR ACCESSIBILITY INFO




LOCATIONS


Malcolm X Centre

141 City Rd, BS2 8YH

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PRSC

Hearing Loop - We regret that PRSC does not have a hearing loop system but it is a relatively small space. We are reserving the front row seats for those who need them for access.

Steps - There are no steps between the pavement and the hall. There is a ramp into the building and the street outside is relatively steep so we will ensure that a volunteer is at the entrance to assist if needed.

Accessible Toilet - PRSC does not have an accessible toilet. However, we are arranging for an accessible portaloo to be available in the PRSC courtyard throughout the festival.

Quiet Space - PRCS is one large room and there is no quiet space available. However, we are reserving seats nearest the toilets and the entrance for those who need them.

Sunflowers - Our volunteers are trained to recognise the sunflower lanyard system. There are also our own access lanyards available at reception.

Temperature - PRSC does not have central heating but has some portable gas canister heater. It can be cold even with the heaters on.

Seating - The chairs are plastic and steel foldable chairs without armrests. There are a couple of elderly sofas.

Refreshments - There will be vegan samosas, snacks, tea and coffee available for a small cost as well as free tap water.

People's Republic of Stokes Croft

14 Hillgrove St, BS2 8JT

X

Malcolm X Centre

Hearing Loop - Malcolm X does not have a hearing loop system. The main hall is quite large and the acoustics can be quite challenging for people hard of hearing. However, we are reserving the front row seats for those who need them, in the hope that this will make the event manageable.

Steps - There is a ramp up from the pavement and then It’s flat to the main hall and toilets.

Accessible Toilet - There is one with a handle and space to turn a chair.

Quiet Space - The main hall is one large space but there is a foyer between it and the door that will be quiet while the event is on. However, the foyer is colder than the hall.

Sunflowers - Our volunteers are trained to recognise the sunflower lanyard system. There are also our own access lanyards available at reception.

Temperature - Malcolm X has heating and should be warm throughout.

Seating - The chairs are plastic and steel foldable chairs without armrests.

Refreshments - There will be vegan samosas, snacks, tea and coffee available for a small cost as well as free tap water.

Dockland Youth Centre

31 Brigstocke Rd, BS2 8UF

X

Docklands

Hearing Loop - Docklands does not have a hearing loop system. The main hall is quite large and the acoustics can be quite challenging for people hard of hearing. However, we are reserving the front row seats for those who need them, in the hope that this will make the event manageable.

Steps - Docklands has a dropped curve right outside the front then it is a ramp to a wheelchair accessible space.

Accessible Toilet - They have a purpose built disabled toilet

Sunflowers - Our volunteers are trained to recognise the sunflower lanyard system. There are also our own access lanyards available at reception.

Temperature - Docklands has heating and is generally warm

Seating - The lounge has cushioned seating. The main space has foldable plastic and steel chairs without armrests.

Refreshments - There will be vegan samosas, snacks, tea and coffee available for a small cost as well as free tap water.

Hamilton House

80 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY

X

Hamilton House

Steps - The steps from the pavement to the rooms are: Mild West - 56, Event Space - 55, Green, Room - 61, The Den - 82, Art Room - 83. There is a lift to all floors once inside the building. There is a wheelchair ramp in front of the building, to the left of the building when looking at it from the front.

Accessible Toilet - They have an accessible toilet in The Canteen on the ground floor but it is not Changing places approved.

Sunflowers - Our volunteers are trained to recognise the sunflower lanyard system. There are also our own access lanyards available at reception.

Temperature - Hamilton House has heating and is usually warm

Seating - Foldable plastic and steel chairs without armrests

Refreshments - There will be vegan samosas, snacks, tea and coffee available for a small cost as well as free tap water. Hamilton House has a cafe/bar downstairs that does food and snacks.

Kuumba Centre

20 Hepburn Rd, BS2 8UD

TESTIMONIALS