Bristol Women’s Voice and Sing With Soul team up to celebrate the contribution of Black women to suffrage, hosted by Bristol’s arts house, Arnolfini on the 7th October 12 – 4.30pm.
Black Women 100 sees Bristol Women’s Voice, Sing With Soul and Arnolfini team up to highlight a centenary of black women’s suffrage through an exciting lineup of performances, talks and panel discussions, hosted by Bristol’s arts house, Arnolfini. The event will unearth stories of some of the incredible women of colour that fought for the right to vote and equality. This year has seen some incredible celebrations of the first votes for women: Bristol Women’s Voice would like to shine a light on the stories of Black women, whose contributions have not seen enough research.
The ‘Soul Sisters’ choir, led by Sing With Soul’s Dionne Draper, will open the day with a line-up of uplifting songs including ‘We Rise’. Dionne was commissioned by Bristol Women’s Voice to write the song to celebrate the centenary year.
A brand new one-woman theatre piece by Jenny Davis will explore the incredible lives and activism of two nurses Mary Seacole and Princess Campbell bringing together ideas around the 100th year of Suffrage, Windrush and NHS 70th anniversary celebrations. The performance will explore activism, leadership and being a Black woman.
Four young artists from Rising Arts, Roseanna Dias, Euella Jackson,Anika Deb and Stacey Olika, will talk about their work with the project. Bristol Radical History Group’s Silu Pascoe will deliver her educational talk: Black and Asian Women and the Suffrage Movements, uncovering the stories so often omitted from the history of suffrage in Britain and the US.
A panel discussion led by African Voice Forum will bring women together to talk about their relationship with suffrage, what it means to them and the contribution that Black women have made to the women’s rights movement in the UK.
Breathing Fire, the UK’s only Black Women’s Playback Theatre company, will deliver a one off interactive performance, expressing women’s comments about suffrage and the centenary year.
The day will finish with an exuberant performance from Tan Teddy, Bristol’s Jamaican Folk band. The group advocates for Jamaican heritage by sharing art and culture to promote diversity in Bristol.
Sandra Gordon, BWV Volunteer Coordinator and event organiser says: ‘So many Black Women have led the way to fighting inequality and injustice throughout their lives, without the acknowledgement and recognition of their invaluable contribution. I am proud to be working on a project that ensures that history is told, remembered and celebrated by all within our diverse city.’
Dionne Draper, Sing With Soul Director and producer says; ‘Sing With Soul’s mission is to empower female voices through music, song and the spoken word. Black Women 100 is exactly that, a bold, inspiring opportunity to hear often silenced voices’
The full programme and FREE tickets for the day are available via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-women-100-tickets-49934699029
This event is funded by the Government Equalities Office.
Event contacts:
Sandra Gordon (Event organiser)
Sandra@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk
0117 9166552
Eleanor Vowles (BWV Coordinator)
Ellie@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk
07850441847