International Women’s Day in Manchester and the North

Creative Tourist

International Women’s Day becomes a more prevalent feature in our calendar each year, and rightly so. On the one hand the day – which falls on 8 March – is a celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women through history. On the other, it’s an opportunity to talk openly about how we might address ever-present gender imbalances in society today, with this year’s theme being #InspireInclusion.

The annual event comes in the form of an array of cultural happenings around the world. Here’s a rundown of the most eye-catching events happening on and around the day in Manchester and the North.

Our top picks

Jane Jin Kaisen: ‘Halmang’ at esea contemporary

Jane Jin Kaisen: ‘Halmang’ at esea contemporary, Until 21 April 2024, free entry - Visit now

Explored from a transnational feminist lens, artist Jane Jin Kaisen reveals the stunning results of her decade-long research about Jeju Island, off the coast of the Korean Peninsula.

3. Jane Jin Kaisen, 'Halmang', 2023, video still, courtesy of the artist
3. Jane Jin Kaisen, 'Halmang', 2023, video still, courtesy of the artist

International Women’s Day at Waterside

International Women's Day at Waterside at Waterside, Manchester, Until 13 April 2024, from £0.00 - Book now

From photography exhibitions to theatre scratch nights, Waterside has a packed programme of events to mark International Women’s Day 2024.

International Women's Day at Waterside
Image courtesy of Denise Laura Baker.

GRUB Manchester

GRUB Manchester, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M4 4HF - Visit now

On 7 March, Grub’s hosting a special International Women’s Day Quiz. Not only will you be showcasing your knowledge, but you’ll also be supporting a fantastic cause! Every Month Manchester, a dedicated period poverty charity, is running this event to raise funds and awareness. Part of Lass Fest, a week of events taking place at three venues: Grub, Fairfield Social Club and Cultplex.

Yevonde: Life and Colour at Laing Art Gallery

Yevonde: Life and Colour at Laing Art Gallery, North East, Until 20 April 2024, from £7.00 - Book now

Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery celebrates the 60 year artistic journey of Yevonde Middleton, whose involvement in the Suffragette movement gave way to a pioneering career in photography.

Mask (Rosemary Chance) by Yevonde (1938, printed 2022-3), purchased with support from the Portrait Fund, 2021 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Wives and Daughters season at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House online

Wives and Daughters - Events Season at Elizabeth Gaskell's House, online, Until 30 November 2024, from £5.00 - Book now

Each year, the team at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House on Manchester’s Plymouth Grove picks one of the famous 19th-century author’s texts to take – in modern parlance – a deep dive into: in 2024, it’s the turn of Wives and Daughters.

Elizabeth Gaskell's House

Material Power: Palestinian Embroidery at The Whitworth

Material Power: Palestinian Embroidery at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 7 April 2024, free entry - Visit now

Presenting the ways in which textiles are a “visual language shared by women”, Material Power celebrates Palestinian craft and culture, mapping the ways in which the medium and its uses in Palestine have evolved over time.

© The Whitworth, The University of Manchester. Photo: Ruth Wedgbury.

A Taste of Honey at the Royal Exchange Theatre

A Taste of Honey at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, Until 13 April 2024, from £10.00 - Book now

Placing a working-class female perspective front and centre, Shelagh Delaney’s career-defining play was considered a daring piece of theatre when it was written in 1958. Don’t miss the Royal Exchange Theatre’s “defiant and fresh” new production this March.

A Taste of Honey at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Image courtesy of feastcreative.com.