Creative Manchester, one of The University of Manchester’s four Research Platforms, will be celebrating International Women’s Day 2025 with an event in partnership with MACFEST Muslim Arts and Culture Festival. 

On Wednesday 5 March at The Whitworth, Dr Jenna Ashton (Senior Lecturer in Heritage Studies and Creative Manchester research theme lead), Mahboobeh Rajabi (Creative Entrepreneur, Artist, Cultural Leader and Creative Producer), Nusrat Ahmed (Curator for the South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum) and Dr Saskia Warren (Senior Lecturer in Human Geography) will discuss the theme ‘accelerating action’ with a particular focus on the role of heritage, arts and culture for accelerating women’s equality and social justice. This will be discussed in the context of the UN’s latest update report on the lack of progress around SDG5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment, and the increasing threats to women’s bodily autonomy and implementation of discriminatory legislation. 

Jenna’s latest book ‘Handbook of Heritage and Gender’, which is published the same month, has related topics that will be discussed on gender and the heritage sector; the role of heritage, arts and cultures for accelerating women’s equality and social justice. 

The event is free to attend and open to all. Full details and booking can be found here.