Artscape Steps Up against Gender-Based Violence at their 17th Women’s Humanity Festival

“Can we truly celebrate 30 years of democracy when so many women and children are still prevented from freely and fairly exercising their right to democracy, freedom, equality and above all, humanity?”

These words from Dr Marlene le Roux, CEO of Artscape the Theatre Centre, sum up the thinking behind this year’s Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival (AWHF), planned in association with Woman Zone for Women’s Month. “We have to step up, walk the talk and change the unacceptably high tide of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in our communities, and by we” she says, “I mean, everyone – government, civil society, NGOs, law enforcers, each and every one of us citizens.”

In that spirit, through their Festival theme, Step-Up for Change, Artscape invites all NGOs, government representatives, faith leaders and faith-based organisations, patrons and concerned citizens, to join them for the host of events happening throughout the month.

On August 9th, Women’s Day, the popular Women’s Humanity Walk will this year be small and symbolic. Invited guests will gather at the District Six Museum Homecoming Centre and proceed in unity through the city to arrive at the steps of the Artscape piazza. And taking it one step further this year, Artscape will also be inviting participants to play their part towards ending GBV by coming to Artscape at any time during the month of August to sign their #Step-Up for Change Pledge.

The Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival kicks off on 9 July with an official launch, followed by a range of events and productions planned and designed specifically to highlight and appeal to patrons committed to the cause of women’s challenges as well as their achievements. As can be seen from the programme below, they will be spoilt for choice!

“The ongoing goal of the Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival is to embrace artists and patrons from all gender expressions, abilities and disabilities in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” says Le Roux. “We stand on the shoulders of the thousands of strong women who have gone before us, and whom we celebrate and honour with our annual Festival. This year we pay homage in particular to the late Blanche la Guma, a struggle activist and nurse who in her own right, courageously fought for equal education for non-white nurses during apartheid.” In addition, she says, “We are also very proud to have struggle veteran, author and former gender commissioner, Prof Gertrude Fester as our keynote speaker on Women’s Day when she will address the audience, symbolically on the steps of Artscape.”

The programme for the Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival 2024: AWHF2024-Programme

• 9 July: AWHF Launch 17:30 for 18:00 in the Marble Foyer Extension Honouring the late Blanche La Guma by heritage activist Dr Bonita Bennett Launch of She Had a Name 365, a Gender-Based Violence installation by performance artist Carin Bester
• Introduction and signing of the #Step-Up for Change Pledge – a challenge to society to prevent GBV/commit to promoting humanity with clear suggestions

• Performance of Voices in Unison by the South African Youth Choir conducted by Phil Robertson and Encore Chamber Choir conducted by Cathy Jane Mintoor
• Production of The Battered Housewives Club, a theatre review directed by Zubayr Charles

as an a capella jukebox musical; 19:30 in the Innovation Lounge

• 4 August: Voices in Unison 16:00 in the Opera House

Showcasing intergenerational choirs transcend social and cultural barriers creating spaces where diverse voices come together in harmony. Choirs performing: Cape Town Camerata, UWC Creative Arts Choir, UCT Choir, Encore Chamber Choir, Dutch-Reformed Church Choirs, Joyful Harmonies, Cape Cultural Collective Rosa Choir, Cape Malay Choir, and the South African Youth Choir

• 4 August: Knit and Natter, a Woman Zone Everywoman project 15:00 in the Marble Foyer Extension

All welcome to join the meeting to knit and help dress Woman Zone’s Wire Woman statue in wool

• 6 August: 1000 Women Campaign 11:00 in the Theatre

A thousand women speak out against abuse. Led by Tina Thiart 9 August: Women’s Day events Women’s Humanity Walk – a small gathering of walkers will start at District Six Museum Homecoming Centre at 9:30 for speeches and address on UN Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples by Rev Pippa Jones of the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative and Zebada January, Khoi interfaith activist Proceed through the city on a symbolic walk of unity to Artscape piazza steps for blessings by Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist leaders as well as members of the Cape Town Interfaith Institute including Jenny Canau, and Bishop Stafford Moses from the Anglican Diocese of False Bay Keynote speech by Prof Gertrude Fester Entertainment by Women Unite Marimba Band founded by Thandi Swartbooi Symbolic signing of #Step-Up for Change Pledge Knitting for Kindness knitting circle with Knit and Natter 12:00 Marble Foyer Woman’s Day radio show broadcast 12:00 – 13:00 Ballroom Boy, theatre production, 13:00 in the Arena Story of a mother and her two sons, a family torn apart by gang violence, directed by Nolan Africa and sponsored by SBA – Die Stigting vir Bemagtiging deur Afrikaans The Battered Housewives Club, 14:30 in the Innovation Lounge Dance of the La Gumas, theatre production 18:00 in the Arena