On 8 March the world celebrates International Women’s Day – an event that belongs to all those committed to forging women’s equality.
In Thanet, International Women’s Day is the focus of an annual festival delivered by POW Thanet who have been financially supported by experienced grant maker Kent Community Foundation since 2020. Now in its ninth year, the Power of Women Thanet, festival will run from 1 to 24 March and its theme for 2024 is ‘rest’.
On International Women’s Day (8 March) activities in Margate will include a sponsored swim at the Walpole Bay Tidal Pool, a meditation at the Turner Contemporary and an exhibition at the TKE Studio with renowned local artist Tracey Emin.
The month long festival will also include an Art Trail, Music for the Soul at St Lukes Church Ramsgate, a Mother’s Day cream tea and writing workshop at Powell-Cotton Museum and free printing workshops. And for those not able to attend the events in person, Sunday17 March will be a free digital day with a series of talks, workshops and exclusive content to enjoy remotely.
In 2023 the festival had 19,500 beneficiaries, attracted 300 artists performers and creatives in over fifty venues and made significant strides in promoting gender equality and empowering diverse voices through art.
Rosanagh Fuller, Chief Executive, POW Thanet said, “Each March, the shores of Thanet come alive with the POW Annual Festival, a tribute to International Women’s Day and a celebration of the boundless creativity of women and non-binary individuals. The 2024 festival’s theme is rest and includes workshops, exhibitions, performances, and the festival welcomes both in-person and virtual attendees, from local enthusiasts to global art aficionados.
“Our mission is to provide arts and creativity to all Thanet community members. We believe that the arts and creativity have the transformative power to make the world more equal. Our engagement initiatives run year-round, sparking inspiration and broadening horizons with young people and local community groups. We foster collaborations between artists and local institutions, amplifying the reach of our public arts endeavours.”
Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and Impact and Deputy Chief Executive said, “Kent Community Foundation has been supporting the work of POW Thanet since 2020. The POW Thanet’s post 2023 festival survey reported that, 90% of respondents (either strongly agreed or agreed) that the festival made them feel joyous and inspired, and more than 80% of audiences agreed that the festival allowed them to celebrate International Women’s Day, made them feel more connected with their community and more included in the arts. The POW festival offers the community a month of varied activities and makes art much more accessible for the residents of Thanet and we are proud to support their work.”
To find out more about the 2024 POW Thanet Festival visit www.powthanet.com/rest
About POW Thanet
Based in East Kent, Power of Women Thanet (POW) envisions a world where gender equality is a reality for everyone in Thanet and beyond. POW’s mission is to provide access to the arts and creativity to all Thanet community members, especially women and non-binary people in all their diversity. POW believe that the arts and creativity have the transformative power to make the world more equal.
POW Thanet 2023 evaluation report www.powthanet.com/impact
About Kent Community Foundation
Experienced grant-maker Kent Community Foundation is the ‘organisation behind the organisations’ and has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary groups in the county for over twenty one years. In this time, it has distributed almost £55 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
Kent Community Foundation is part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-seven Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged by matching those who want to help, with those who need the help.
Responsible for more than ninety philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
