Celebrate women creators and change-makers with Festival of Women in July

The all-digital Festival of Women, N.O.W. (not ordinary work) returns this year from Jul 13 to 31.

Organised by local arts company T:>Works and helmed by theatre artist Noorlinah Mohamed, the festival explores taboo topics that are seldom heard or seen within the diverse communities of women in Singapore.

This year’s festival has a mix of free events and ticketed events.

It includes a talk about overcoming fear that will be held over three nights on Jul 13, Jul 21 and Jul 28 at 7.30pm via Facebook Live. The talk features conversations on the fear of intimacy and relationships with self and others, as well as learning about the challenges that women entrepreneurs face.

Other highlights include a 24-hour playwriting competition, with prizes up to $350 on offer, as well as a workshop on preparing restorative tonics which are not only good for the body but also for the soul.

A prelude to the festival, with three exhibitions, is being held till the start of the festival.

One of the exhibitions, Thamizhachi: A Digital Museum of Tamil Women Under Construction, invites you to learn about the concerns, and aspirations of Singaporean Indians, through objects associated with Tamil ladies.

You will be able to admire the collection, gathered through workshops with Singaporean Tamil women, which give a glimpse into a Singaporean Tamil woman’s daily life and interaction with the objects.

Another exhibition, @(un)becomingstories is an extension of a play at the actual festival, (un)becoming, about mother-daughter relationships in Singapore today. @(un)becomingstories features real-life mother-daughter stories from women across cultures and communities in Singapore which have been shared on Instagram via a digital open call, which is still open.

The play will be a livestreamed digital performance on Jul 14 and Jul 15 at 7.30pm, as well as Jul 16 and 17 at 7.30pm and 10.30pm. Tickets are available through SISTIC at $25 or $50.

With a variety of different events, you will almost certainly come away from the festival having new knowledge and appreciation about being a woman!

Head to this website for the full list of N.O.W. 2021 events as well as to register for the various events.