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16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

Poetry and Activism : 16 Day Festival examining how poetry and Language can create transformational social change

16-Days of Activism is an international campaign running from 25 November to 10
December, dedicated to raising awareness and combating gender-based
violence. This year, Manchester Met is hosting a series of events featuring poets,
activists, and academics to explore how poetry and the arts can respond to
gender inequality and bring about social change.


Throughout the 16 days, the university will host readings, panel discussions and
writing workshops, including events with Everyday Sexism founder Laura Bates,
author and psychoanalyst Katherine Angel, and poet and playwright Joelle
Taylor. From powerful spoken-word performances to in-depth conversations, the
festival is designed to amplify voices fighting against gender-based violence and
highlight the critical role of creativity in activism.

Festival Director, Dr Kim Moore, says, “We have a stunning programme of events featuring writers who believe in the power of poetry and language to make transformational social change. Some of the things we will be exploring include everyday sexism and incel ideology, the impact of domestic violence, as well as issues around consent and gaslighting. We hope to become part of an ongoing conversation in society that recognises gender-based violence as a national emergency.”

Professor Andrew McMillan adds, “We here at Man Met are delighted to be supporting and
hosting this unique and much-needed festival which brings together thinkers, writers and
communities to do what we all know poetry can – validate experience, create new methods
of connection, and articulate in new ways experiences which are sadly common to so
many. Projects like this are at the heart of our mission as a modern civic university.”

The festival is wheelchair accessible and will take place in person at the Manchester Poetry Library and the Lowry Building at Manchester Metropolitan University. Some events will also be
online or live-streamed. This is a trans-inclusive festival.

ABOUT THE ORGANISERS
The Manchester Writing School is based at Manchester Metropolitan University, and is one of the biggest and most successful literary centres in the UK. Established in 1998, the School hosts exciting writing programmes, a vibrant series of public events, a city-wide children’s book festival, and a major international writing competition.

Manchester Poetry Library (MPL) is the North West’s first public poetry library – open to all. Based at Manchester Metropolitan University, it hosts a collection of over 14,000 books and recordings profiling 20th and 21st century poets, a growing children’s collection, and a languages collection co-curated with bilingual and multilingual poets. MPL has a year-round learning programme for readers and writers, as well as a free events, workshops and an exhibition programme.

FULL PROGRAMME

25 Nov
Reading & Discussion: Dr Kim Moore & Laura Bates
An evening of poetry & engaging discussion about everyday sexism, how we move through a damaged patriarchal society & how we can resist injustice.
26 Nov Reading & Discussion: Clare Shaw & Dr Malika Booker
Award-winning poets explore articulations of inherited trauma, gendered violence & resistance.
27 Nov Workshop: Erasure Workshop with Roma Havers & Catherine Davies
28 Nov Discussion: Dr Frazer Heritage & Caroline Stancer
Vital discussion on incels, ideologies & performances of masculinity.
29 Nov Performance: Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa
Live literature show navigating the historical narratives of Barbadian women.
30 Nov Workshop: Late Night Writing Hour with Kim Moore
1 Dec Discussion: Charlotte Shevchenko Knight, Naomi Morris & Char Heather
Panel exploring feminist approaches to illness narratives & gender inequality in medicalised spaces.
2 Dec Reading & Discussion: Dr Derek Bousfield and Professor Helen Mort
Interdisciplinary discussion investigating how poetry can illuminate & examine the language of gaslighting.
3 DecWorkshop: ‘We Sinful Women’ with Anjum Malik
Discussion, reading and workshop exploring the 1980s iconic Urdu poetry collective, We Sinful Women.
4 Dec Reading & Discussion: Dr Kim Moore & Prof Khatidja Chantler
Performance of ‘i-poems’ – drawn from the voices of survivors of domestic abuse & family members of victims of domestic homicide.
5 DecReading & Discussion: Anjum Malik & Charlotte Shevchenko Knight
Multilingual poetry readings exploring gender hierarchies, the female body & hunger.
6 DecReading & Discussion: Joelle Taylor
Deep dive into Joelle’s recent work examining violence against women & butch lesbian counterculture.
7 Dec Open Mic
8 DecWorkshop: Permission to Speak with Caroline Stancer
Develop your creative practice by reading and writing the poems you want to write.
9 Dec Reading & Discussion: Nat Raha & Roma Havers
Explore the disruptive potential of poetry, collective action and radical queer joy.
10 DecReading & Discussion: Dr Katherine Angel & Professor Helen Mort
In celebration of Human Rights Day, a discussion focussing on issues around female desire, sexuality, consent and violence.