International Women’s Day Activities

Manchester’s inspirational women launch city’s International Women’s Day activities.

2011 marks 100 years since the first International Women’s Day took place on 8 March to raise awareness of women’s issues and celebrate their achievements.  To mark this, 50 inspirational women from all walks of life in Manchester came together to launch the IWD programme of events with a group photograph on the steps of Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square at 12.30pm on Friday 4th March 2011.

The 50 strong group included:

  • Charlotte Newson, artist and creator of Women Like You, the photomosaic of Emmeline Pankhurst
  • Councillor Suzanne Richards, Lead Member on Women for Manchester City Council
  • Sinead Greenaway, CEO of MediaCity
  • Sue Woodward,  Director of the Sharp Project
  • Morwenna Angove, Chief Executive of the Chill Factore
  • Maria Balshaw, Director of Manchester Art Gallery and Whitworth Art Gallery
  • Maria McGeoghan, Editor of the Manchester Evening News
  • Katharine Mellor, Partner at DWF
  • Jane Kenyon of Well Heeled Divas
  • Melanie Bryan, winner of the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award
  • Elizabeth Taylor, winner of NW Primary Teacher of the Year 2010

As the birthplace of women’s suffrage in the UK, Manchester has always been at the centre of the women’s movement and is marking the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day (IWD) with a series of great events around the city including a YouTube channel – 2011IWD 100 years 100 voices – performance art, debates, film screenings and a production of The Vagina Monologues in aid of the Birdhouse Fund (full details at www.manchester.gov.uk/IWD and www.birdhousefund.org)

Manchester City Council is working with Oxfam (part of the EQUALS partnership, a group of leading charities brought together by Annie Lennox to celebrate the IWD centenary), Inspirational Woman Magazine, the Social Media Boom digital agency and Lollipop PR to co-ordinate this unique event.  Information can be found on Facebook at www.tinyurls.co.uk/Z25776 and on Twitter @IWDphotoshoot and #IWDphotoshoot.

The inspirational women will be available for interviews, photographs and comment at the event.

For information to confirm that you are able to attend or to request photographs please contact:

Emma Beck at Lollipop PR on 07932 763 015, e: emma@lollipop-pr.com t:@lollipopprlady

Naomi Timperley at Social Media Boom on 07876 567 883, e: naomi.home@btconnect.com @naomitimperley